Heel turn? North Carolina football GM defends Bill Belichick over unsigned contract

Can a buyout be enforced if the original contract is unsigned? North Carolina might like to know.

According to CBS Sports, new head coach Bill Belichick is operating in his role in every expected capacity but hasn't signed the contract he agreed to when athletic director Bubba Cunningham named him Tar Heels coach.

UNC football general manager Michael Lombardi claimed in an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" that the published story is part of a personal vendetta, and reiterated Belichick is at North Carolina to stay.

"The (story) that keeps going on is being generated by someone who doesn't like our program, doesn't like me or Coach Belichick, and refuses to allow it to go. (Bill) Parcells used to say all the time, quit kicking the horse that's already dead. They keep kicking something that doesn't exist," Lombardi told the McAfee on Thursday. "It's clicks for their website, which is wonderful and then they take shots at us as individuals. Somebody has to stand up for our program.

"Everyone says, 'Well, why isn't Bill speaking out?' Bill doesn't speak out. That's what I'm supposed to do as the general manager is to let people know what's going on with our program. He's not going anywhere. ... Coach Belichick is where he wants to be. ... He's in Washington D.C., in spite of all the stories trying to say that he's not working, his contract, and all that. He's on the road recruiting. He'll be in Baltimore tomorrow. We're trying to get some players to become Tar Heels."

The contract, which includes a buyout of $10 million if Belichick were to terminate his employment by June 1, 2025, was considered a hurdle for the seven total NFL teams who had head-coaching vacancies. Of course, Belichick was not considered a candidate to return to the New England Patriots, the only position that has been filled since the season ended.

Six other NFL teams could request an interview with Belichick, who was viewed as a candidate for the opening in Dallas created earlier this week when contract talks fell apart between owner Jerry Jones and coach Mike McCarthy.

CBS Sports reported Belichick and UNC's vice chancellor for finance and operations Nate Knuffman signed a term sheet on Dec. 11. The four-page document states it is not a binding agreement.

It's not uncommon for college coaches to work without officially completing the process of signing a binding agreement, especially at state schools. Michigan's Sherrone Moore, who replaced national championship coach Jim Harbaugh a year ago, was a month away from the first game of the 2024 season before he officially signed a contract.

--Field Level Media