UNC defensive coordinator Steve Belichick is away from the program on medical leave, head coach Bill Belichick said Thursday at the Kenan Football Center. Steve Belichick had been scheduled to address the media last Thursday following the Tar Heels’ first practice of fall camp, but did not appear at the podium. Bill Belichick said the program hopes to get Steve back “as soon as possible.”
“We coach the defense collectively as a staff,” Bill Belichick said Thursday. “So we’ll continue to do that. Those guys are involved with everybody.”
As for play-calling duties should Steve not rejoin the team before the season opener later this month, Bill deferred, only saying, “We’ll see.”
Steve Belichick’s medical leave comes as general manager Michael Lombardi continues to be on paid administrative leave. Lombardi’s leave was first announced July 27 and can last a maximum of 30 days. There was no update to the investigation into Lombardi’s conduct as of Thursday morning.
Steve Belichick joined the UNC program prior to the 2025 season, shortly after his father was named head coach. He spent the 2024 season at the University of Washington, but the two Belichicks have worked together before: Steve served on his father’s staff with the New England Patriots for more than a decade, ending his time there as the Patriots’ defensive play-caller.
Under Steve Belichick’s leadership, UNC ranked 24th nationally in red zone defense, allowing only 23 touchdowns in 44 total trips to the red zone by opposing offenses. Carolina’s 24.5 points allowed per game ranked 66th out of 134 teams nationally and its 336.9 total yards allowed per game ranked 38th.
UNC opens the season Saturday, Aug. 29 against TCU in Dublin, Ireland as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
Featured image via Associated Press/Chris Seward
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Related Stories
‹
'Not Going for a Vacation': UNC Football Not Caught Up in Pageantry of Ireland ShowcaseUNC is ready to rewrite the narrative around the football program when it faces TCU in Dublin, Ireland tomorrow.
Chansky's Notebook: Fool Me Once...Little Kool-Aid will be consumed by Carolina fans before the noon kickoff from Dublin. Fool me once but not again. It is a great trip to Ireland for the Tar Heels fans who bought the plane tickets and hotel rooms to tour the Emerald Isle and see if their team is any better than Bill […]
2026 UNC Football Opponent Preview: TCUFor the second consecutive year, Carolina will open its football season against TCU on national television. The Tar Heels and Horned Frogs are set to face off Saturday at 12 p.m. in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland, the second of a two-game series between the programs. TCU finished the 2025 season […]
Chansky's Notebook: 'Mitigating Risk'Billy Edwards is not Tom Brady, but he shows enough of a resemblance for Bill Belichick to name him UNC's QB1.
97.9 The Hill's 2026 Football Season Programming: Here's What You'll HearThe Hill will again provide robust coverage of UNC football during the 2026 season. Read the complete weekly programming schedule here.
'When Jordan Talks, Everyone Listens': Why UNC's Jordan Shipp is 'Mr. Carolina'Jordan Shipp's loyalty to the UNC football program and his frequent public appearances have led to a new nickname: "Mr. Carolina."
Here’s a Complete Rundown of Every UNC Football Player Named to a 2026 Award Watch ListAs we approach the 2026 college football season, several Tar Heels have been named to watch lists for national awards. Check out the complete rundown below, and check back in throughout the season to see an updated list! RB Demon June — Doak Walker Award As a true freshman in 2025, June emerged as one […]
What's Playing for Bobby Petrino Like? Tar Heels Discuss New Offensive CoordinatorThe 2026 season will be Bobby Petrino’s first as UNC’s offensive coordinator. Petrino will look to revitalize a unit which struggled for most of the 2025 season, finishing 16th out of 17 teams in the ACC in scoring and dead last in yardage. Petrino most recently coached at Arkansas, and though the Razorbacks endured a […]
UNC Football Ramping Up Intensity as Fall Training Camp Hits 1-Week MarkThursday morning marked one week of UNC’s fall training camp, and head coach Bill Belichick said the team has been steadily ramping up the intensity of its sessions. Wednesday was the Tar Heels’ first day of practice in pads, as the “acclimation period” portion of camp comes to an end. “The competition really starts this […]
UNC Defensive Coordinator Steve Belichick on Medical Leave, Father Bill SaysUNC defensive coordinator Steve Belichick is away from the program on medical leave, head coach Bill Belichick said Thursday at the Kenan Football Center. Steve Belichick had been scheduled to address the media last Thursday following the Tar Heels’ first practice of fall camp, but did not appear at the podium. Bill Belichick said the […]
›
