Tom Brady shares his expectations for UNC football under Bill Belichick

CountOne of the many people eager to watch Bill Belichick’s first season as coach of the University of North Carolina football team is Tom Brady.

The NFL head coach Belichick’s record speaks for itself. However, in terms of his collegiate career, the 73-year-old Belichick is venturing into uncharted territory this season.

Prior to this season with the Tar Heels, Belichick had 48 years of coaching experience, but he had never had a position in collegiate football. He began coaching football in 1975 as an assistant with the Baltimore Colts.

Brady, who won six Super Bowls with Belichick in New England, stated on The Joel Klatt Show that UNC players and supporters should have high expectations now that Belichick is in charge of the team, despite those possible growing pains.

“Obviously, they’re going to get the most prepared and diligent coach I’ve ever encountered,” Brady stated. You will be ready to play at a higher level if you attend that institution. He is going to teach you the proper foundations and methods. He will hold you to a high standard, and you will grow significantly. I am aware of that.

They will undoubtedly receive the most organized and diligent coach I have ever encountered.Bill Belichick’s first-year expectations at UNCFootball.pic.twitter.com/Ekbur7ERuD are explained by @TomBrady.

Brady stated that his former coach may still need to make some changes in 2025 and beyond, even if Belichick’s careful game planning and football IQ should help a UNC squad that finished 6-7 the previous season.

Brady admitted that greater patience will need to be taught to Belichick and his staff this season on a UNC roster that will have significantly less skill than what he is used to working with, despite the fact that Belichick witnessed several young players flourish during his 24-season tenure in Foxborough.

Brady stated, “I believe the difficulty for him is that he’s dealing with a lot of players who are probably underdeveloped because he’s dealt with guys who are four, five, or six years further along than what he’s normally had to deal with.” Therefore, I believe he will likely have a learning curve.

And I’m speculating here. I don’t know a lot about it. However, coaching a 17 or 18-year-old is undoubtedly different than coaching a 22 or 23-year-old. They are therefore most likely less physically developed.

Brady’s remarks are consistent with the worries expressed by former Patriots star Rob Ninkovich in June. The two-time Super Bowl champion pointed out that Belichick’s pool of talent this autumn is far smaller than it was when he was in the NFL.

As a result, the outcomes might not always match the preparation and game planning Belichick does at Chapel Hill.

On the Dudes on Dudes podcast, which featured former teammates Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman, Ninkovich stated, “I think we were all a little shocked and surprised that he took that job.”Trying to make the most of a roster with fewer skill will be difficult, in my opinion. Let’s face it, the NFL’s weakest club has more talent.

With a roster full of studs, you could have the (expletive) NFL football team. Given that, let’s face it, one, two, or even three of these kids are NFL-caliber athletes, I believe it might be a little harder to get the best out of them.

Brady still thinks Belichick has the coaching skills to turn around the UNC program, if his players support him, despite the obstacles facing him and a Tar Heels squad that didn’t get a single Top 25 vote in the season’s first Coaches Poll.

Brady remarked, “I believe that Coach Belichick’s ability to dismantle an opponent is what makes him so incredible tactically.” He is very intelligent in his approach to both offensive and defensive strategies, and he watches a lot of movies. Additionally, because these young children aren’t really professionals, it could be interesting to see how much they can retain.

As professional athletes, we have more time than they do to get in there and watch the footage, practice, meet, and do all of that. Additionally, they don’t have that much time in college.

Since 2023, Conor Ryan has worked as a staff writer for Boston.com, covering the Boston Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox.