Bill Belichick Signs Contract with North Carolina
Bill Belichick has officially signed his contract with the University of North Carolina. On Thursday, the school made the details of his deal public, which runs through the end of 2029. Belichick had been working under a binding offer sheet since he was introduced as UNC’s head coach in December.
Salary and Income Structure
At 72 years old, Belichick will earn $10 million per year, with $1 million of that as his base salary. The remaining $9 million comes from monthly “supplemental income.” This makes Belichick one of the top-10 highest-paid coaches in college football. According to USA Today’s database, seven coaches earned at least $10 million in 2024, with Georgia’s Kirby Smart being the highest-paid coach at over $13 million.
Bonuses and Incentives
Belichick’s contract includes several performance-based bonuses. If North Carolina makes the College Football Playoff, he will receive a bonus of at least $750,000. If the team wins the national title, he will earn a $1.75 million bonus. His bowl bonus starts at $150,000, but if the team qualifies for a major bowl like the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Gator Bowl, or Duke’s Mayo Bowl, he will receive $350,000.
If the Tar Heels finish the season ranked in the top 25 of the College Football Playoff rankings, Belichick will earn a bonus of at least $250,000.
Buyout and Contract Terms
The contract includes a buyout provision for Belichick. If he decides to leave the program before June 1, the university would owe him $10 million. After June 1, this buyout amount drops to $1 million.
If North Carolina fires Belichick without cause before the end of 2027, the university will need to pay him the remainder of his $1 million annual base salary, along with any unpaid bonuses and supplemental income.
Belichick’s Commitment
Despite interest from multiple NFL teams after the regular season, Belichick confirmed at his introductory news conference that he came to Chapel Hill with the intention to stay. He emphasized that he didn’t come to North Carolina “to leave,” and others have also backed his commitment to the university.
