Bill Belichick is preparing to lead the University of North Carolina Tar Heels through his inaugural season as a college head coach and Tom Brady has weighed in on his prospects for success.
The six-time Super Bowl champion is stepping down to the NCAA for the first in a career that has spanned nearly five decades at the highest levels of football in a brand new venture for the all-time great.
While the 73-year-old’s resume includes that iconic dynasty with the New England Patriots, Brady, the star quarterback of the team from 2000-2019, tips the game to serve him with fresh challenges, some he might struggle with.
“I think the challenge for him is he’s probably dealing with a lot of underdeveloped players,” Brady told The Joel Klatt Show. “Compared to what he’s used to-guys who are four, five, six years further along in their development.
“They’re probably just less physically developed, and he’s a deep thinker of the sport. What makes Coach Belichick so unbelievable is he can break down any opponent.
“He watches so much film, he’s so smart with how he approaches defensive schemes and offensive schemes. The interesting challenge will be: how much can these kids retain?”
So, is Belichick up to the task? According to the man who knows his football brain better than anyone else, the 48-year-old five-time NFL MVP gave an unequivocal endorsement of his former coach’s ability to transform a program from the ground up.
“What they’re gonna get is obviously the most prepared, the most hard-working coach that I’ve ever been around,” Brady said. “If you go to that school, you will be prepared to play at the next level.
“He’s gonna teach the right fundamentals, the right techniques, he’s gonna have high expectations for you, and you’re gonna develop a lot. That’s what I know.”
Belichick’s debut will come on August 29 in Dublin, Ireland, when the Tar Heels meet the TCU Horned Frogs in a neutral-site matchup in a demanding start against a seasoned Power Five opponent.
The schedule eases briefly afterward with games against Charlotte and Richmond, before a grueling stretch that includes UCF, perennial ACC powerhouse Clemson, and California.
Tom Brady hits out at NCAA NIL era as college football evolves
Brady‘s appearance on The Joel Klatt Show also offered a broader commentary on the state of college football as the all-timer also weighed in on the ever-evolving landscape of the NCAA, now into its NIL era.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ace contrasted his own years at the University of Michigan (1995-1999) with the current era, which is dominated by lucrative financial deals and a constantly shifting transfer portal.
He recalled living on a $400 monthly scholarship check and valuing the camaraderie, competition, and leadership lessons as far more worthwhile than any financial incentive.
In his view, the new financial opportunities, while beneficial in certain respects, risk distracting players from developing responsibility, discipline, and decision-making skills.
Today’s elite college athletes can command NIL valuations worth millions of dollars, and the transfer portal allows them to change schools without sitting out a season – essentially putting chasing the bag above enhancing quality.
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