College football fans are about to get another premier look at UNC, which starts its 2026 season on Saturday, August 29 with a 12 p.m. kickoff against TCU in Ireland.
Expectations aren't high this fall for the Tar Heels
, who disappointed with a 4-8 record in Bill Belichick's first year as head coach. North Carolina will start a new quarterback for the third straight season, while hoping offseason additions are the missing keys for more wins.During Belichick's media availability on Monday afternoon, he confirmed UNC will likely be without a key coach on the sidelines Saturday: defensive coordinator Steve Belichick.
The Tar Heels placed Steve Belichick on medical leave earlier this month, which rightfully created concerns amongst fans. Nearly three
weeks later, North Carolina's DC still isn't back.
Bill Belichick previously called defensive plays during his 24 seasons leading the New England Patriots, but UNC's head coach declined to reveal his plans for Saturday's opener.
#UNC coach Bill Belichick just said he has no update on his son, defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, now just five days before the Tar Heels take on #TCU.
— Noah Weiskopf (@NoahWeiskopf) August 24, 2026
I asked Bill Belichick if he plans to call plays, and he had no interest in discussing any potential plans.
TCU's offense overwhelmed the Tar Heels' defense in 2025, winning 48-14 while racking up 542 yards. North Carolina responded with wins in its next two games, holding Charlotte and Richmond to a combined nine points, but relapsed by allowing 34 points to UCF.
If Steve is out for an extended period of time, Chapel Bill needs a succession plan in place. He could either call plays again, which isn't a bad idea considering defense was a strong suit in Foxborough, or promote someone on UNC's staff.
Ideally, Steve magically returns this week to lead North Carolina's defense on Saturday, but that possibility looks increasingly slim.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Bill Belichick delivers update on UNC's defensive coordinator
