Bill Belichick took over the North Carolina Tar Heels football program after his legendary NFL career. The transition to college hasn’t gone smoothly so far.
UNC sits at 2-5 and is still looking for its first ACC win this season. The rough start has put attention on Belichick’s contract details and what he’s earning compared to his NFL days.
He took a significant pay cut to move to Chapel Hill. His current deal is less than half the $25 million he made in his final year with the New England Patriots in 2023.
At the time, Belichick saw it as the best way to reset his coaching career and move on from his time with Robert Kraft and the Patriots.
Contract Details
Belichick ranks ninth among college football’s highest-paid coaches at $10.1 million per year, according to USA TODAY Sports.
The first three years are fully guaranteed. His maximum bonuses reach $3.35 million per year, which ranks fifth nationally and tops the ACC.
- Contract: 5-year, $50.5 million
- Max bonus: $3.35 million
- Salary per game: $841,666
- Salary per half: $420,833
- Salary per quarter: $210,416
- Salary per minute of game time: $14,027
Bonus Structure
Most of Belichick’s bonus opportunities are already out of reach this season.
He can’t hit the eight-win mark, won’t make the College Football Playoff and won’t be in contention for Coach of the Year honors.
Those bonuses will have to wait until next year.
Belichick can still earn a $250,000 academic performance bonus. Four more wins would trigger the $150,000 bowl appearance bonus.
Regular Season Wins
- $350,000 for 12 wins
- $150,000 for eight wins
- $200,000 for reaching the ACC Championship Game, with an additional $100,000 for winning it
- $150,000 for any bowl appearance, increasing to $350,000 for a non-CFP elite bowl game
College Football Playoff
- Participant: $750,000
- Quarterfinals: $1 million
- Semifinals: $1.25 million
- Championship Appearance: $1.5 million
- Championship Win: $1.75 million
- Final CFP Rankings: $250,000 for Top 25 finish to $500,000 for Top 5 finish
Coach of the Year
- $100,000 for ACC Coach of the Year
- $250,000 for National Coach of the Year
Academic Bonuses
- Team GPA: Up to $150,000 for achieving 3.0 GPA or higher
- Academic Progress Report: $100,000 if team’s APR is between 950-969, with additional bonuses for higher performance
Buyout Terms
If North Carolina fired Belichick before Dec. 31, 2027, the school would owe him everything remaining on his contract through that date. That’s roughly $20.8 million.
For comparison, that’s about one-third of the $60 million it would cost Clemson to part ways with Dabo Swinney, according to USA TODAY Sports.
Belichick would owe UNC $10 million if he left before the end of this year. That buyout drops to $1 million after the 2025 season.
Cost Per Win
UNC will only leave North Carolina once during the final month of the season. The cost-per-win numbers paint a stark picture.
The best the Tar Heels can finish is 7-5. If they stay winless in ACC play, that’s $5.05 million per win.
- 7-5 record: $1.4 million per win
- 6-6 record: $1.6 million per win
- 5-7 record: $2 million per win
- 4-8 record: $2.52 million per win
- 3-9 record: $3.36 million per win
- 2-10 record: $5.05 million per win
Belichick and UNC get another chance Friday night at Syracuse (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) on Halloween.
