Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels are entering perhaps their most anticipated season in school history.
Although the Tar Heels have likely fielded more talented teams than they will in 2025, having the legendary Belichick — a six-time Super Bowl champion (if you ask him, he’ll tell you it’s eight, counting his two rings as the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator) — has made the Heels must-see TV. In fact, North Carolina will be chronicled in a new Hulu docuseries this fall.
After finishing 6-7 last season and parting ways with Mack Brown, North Carolina has completely revamped its roster this offseason. The Tar Heels’ roster will feature 70 new players, including 41 from the transfer portal alone. However, according to one analyst, they remain weak at one position.
Defensive Back Remains a Question Mark for North Carolina
AA&P Sports Agency chief negotiator Jason Bloom joined Isaac Schade of “Locked On Tar Heels” to discuss the Tar Heels’ season and some of the players he represents.
Bloom has spoken with UNC general manager Michael Lombardi, a longtime NFL executive who was an assistant to Belichick’s coaching staff in New England from 2014 to 2016. Although the Heels are expecting improvement on defense, they still have at least one major question mark in the secondary.
“I think they like a lot of the players they brought in, I think that, you know, the spots they’re going to be looking at, a little a little bit more might be the offensive line, corner,” said Bloom.
The Heels addressed some of their secondary issues by bringing in Thad Dixon, who entered the transfer portal after playing two seasons at Long Beach City College and two seasons with Washington. He appeared in 14 games with one start for the 2023 Huskies, who reached the national championship game before falling to Michigan, and became a full-time starter in 2024.
“You know, while they did bring in Thad Dixon, who was outstanding, in the Big 10 last year, there’s still the other half of the field, and I think that you know, they’re going they’re going to be looking at that to see how it gels,” saidBloom. “I think they don’t really know what they have yet. So, I wouldn’t put it as a full question mark. I think they just don’t really know what they have there.”
Belichick’s son, Steve, who served as Washington’s defensive coordinator in 2024 after a lengthy tenure as a Patriots assistant under his father, will run the defense for the Heels. Some of his options at defensive back outside of Dixon, who figures to be a leader in the secondary, include Marcus Allen, who had a very productive 2024 season; Kaleb Cost, who is also an outfielder on the UNC baseball team; Gavin Gibson; and Coleman Bryson. Greg Smith, Malcolm Ziglar, Jalon Thompson, Tre Miller, Will Hardy and Ty Adams are among those likely to serve in reserve roles.
Although there are question marks about the new roster — specifically who will man that second corner spot — Belichick can’t wait to see his product on the field.
“These guys are bought in,” Belichick said via the Daily Tar Heel. “They’re working hard. It’s exciting to see what they’re going to be able to do on the field.”
