Sources: Belichick, UNC work on issues before potential hire - ESPN

North Carolina is working to close a deal with Bill Belichick to make the six-time Super Bowl champion the Tar Heels' coach, but sources told ESPN there are still issues that both sides need to work through.

Sources added that the «ball is in Belichick's court» and that North Carolina officials are on board with him becoming the coach. A resolution is expected in the near future, sources said.

Among the looming issues are the potential role for his son and current Washington defensive coordinator Stephen Belichick; North Carolina's name, image and likeness resources; Belichick's salary and resources for the staff and reporting structure.

Talks between North Carolina and Belichick have been ongoing since at least last week, sources said. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Belichick met with North Carolina officials for five hours Sunday.

Belichick was typically coy about the situation in an interview on «The Pat McAfee Show» on Monday afternoon. He confirmed to McAfee that he had a «couple of good conversations» with North Carolina chancellor Lee Roberts and said, «We'll see how that goes.» He concluded the interview by saying about the UNC job: «We'll see. We'll see.»

The hiring of Belichick, 72, would resonate as one of the most stunning and compelling moves in college football history. He worked in the NFL in some capacity from 1975 until his divorce from the New England Patriots after the 2023 season.

The NCAA transfer portal opened Monday, which leaves the Tar Heels' roster potentially in flux. Belichick did talk in hypotheticals about what his college program could look like with McAfee, stressing «if» he took a college job. He observed that modern college football looks a lot more like the NFL.

«If I was in a