When Bill Belichick took up the head coaching role in North Carolina in December 2024, after leading the New England Patriots for 23 long years, the expectations were high. After North Carolina had a 4-8 campaign in his debut season, another factor made an NBC host criticize Belichick.

During the NFL on NBC's Pro Football Talk podcast, Mike Florio and Michael Holley addressed Belichick's HOF-worthy career. Even then, no player from the Tar Heels squad got drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft.

"You got nobody in the NFL draft," said Holley on the May 22nd episode of the podcast. "Boston College got people drafted. Rutgers got people drafted, but you didn't. So that's what he's got to make this make sense."

With 467 career games, 302 wins, and 165 losses, Belichick is famous for identifying and developing NFL talent during his time with the New England Patriots.

Meanwhile, schools like Boston College and Rutgers, programs generally viewed as less prestigious in college football than top ACC or SEC powers, still produced NFL draft picks.

Four players were selected from Boston College in 2026, and Rutgers got one player drafted.

This was the first time since 2016 that the Tar Heels had zero players picked in the draft. However, the bar was set too high by dubbing North Carolina as the NFL's 33rd franchise.

"We consider ourselves the 33rd (NFL) team, 'cause everybody who’s involved in our program has had some form of aspect in pro football," said UNC General Manager Michael Lombardi once back in Feb 2025

Even though just one player made it to the NFL draft last year, the 2024 NFL draft was huge. Drake Maye made it to the NFL in 2024. and made it to the Super Bowl in the 2025 season.

After a disappointing draft season, Belichick is now focusing on the 2026 season.

Bill Belichick "Focused On His Job" At North Carolina

Belichick recently joined FOX analyst Sean Hannity for an interview, where he answered questions about not being selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"Well, out of my control. Honestly, I’ve been very focused on my job at the University of North Carolina and the players," said Belichick, who won six Super Bowls as head coach of the New England Patriots.

Belichick's criticism in recent years has centered on his rigid leadership style, which contributed to the New England Patriots’ decline and North Carolina’s ineffective 2025 season. Still, he admitted that coaching played a part in the team’s struggles.

"It wasn't a bad relationship, but it wasn't a great one," accepted Belichick. "There wasn't the same kind of adhesion that there is to guys that you bring in, that come there because of you, because they want to be with you. And then you grow together."

Another disappointing season in 2026-27 could spell the end of Bill Belichick’s tenure. To avoid that, he will need to coach and develop players who can attract NFL interest and become draft picks.

Share your thoughts on no North Carolina player getting drafted.

Read more at Michigan Football Community.

Written by

Sourav Ganguly

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar