Nearly 25 years after his infamous resignation as head coach of the New York Jets, Bill Belichick appears to be considering taking the job again.
In 2000, Belichick was about to become the next head coach of the New York Jets. However, he resigned during his inaugural press conference, writing so on a napkin.
Belichick cited questions he had about ownership as a reason for his decision. He then moved on to the New England Patriots and made Jets fans’ lives a living hell for the next 20-plus years.
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New York Jets defensive coordinator Bill Belichick during a game against the Carolina Panthers on November 29, 1998 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Damien Strohmeyer/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Belichick is currently the head coach at UNC, but that reportedly wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t first expressed interest in the Jets.
The Athletic reported that in the weeks before his trip to Chapel Hill, Belichick’s “aides” held private talks with several NFL teams, including the Jets. However, no formal discussions took place and UNC’s opportunity arose.
The Jets fired Robert Saleh after starting 2-3 and have gone 1-7 since then.
North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick poses with athletic director Bubba Cunningham during a press conference on December 12, 2024 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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There was speculation online that Belichick would return to the two-time Super Bowl champion New York Giants as defensive coordinator. He coached Tar Heels star Lawrence Taylor until he was selected No. 2 in the 1981 NFL Draft.
It’s widely speculated that Belichick was, and still is, worried about Woody Johnson owning the team. Johnson took a break from the team after serving as ambassador to the United Kingdom during President Donald Trump’s first term. Belichick served as the team’s defensive coordinator for three seasons under former general manager Bill Parcells.
Bill Belichick, new head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Loudermilk Center for Excellence. (Jim Dedmon/Imagine Images)
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Belichick dismissed the idea of heading to the NFL given his potential success at UNC, saying, “I didn’t come here to leave.”
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