With Bill Belichick’s shocking move to the University of North Carolina, many former players of his have offered their thoughts on how the NFL coaching legend will translate to the college level.
Belichick is taking on his first ever college football job after nearly five decades of coaching in the NFL.
One former player, New England Patriots offensive lineman Ross Tucker, believes that Belichick will not be able to succeed in college.
Tucker, who played seven seasons in the NFL and was on the 2005 Patriots, told Boston sports radio station WEEI that Belichick might tarnish his legacy by going to Chapel Hill.
‘Based on my experience playing college football, which is not the current era, and based on my experience playing for coach Belichick — which was almost 20 years ago — he would be probably, by far, the worst college head coach I could ever imagine,’ Tucker said.
‘I mean the idea of the guy that I was around, recruiting, or like going into the living room of a 17-year-old. I want this to happen so bad I can taste it.
Bill Belichick’s move to the University of North Carolina has former players of his talking
Ex-Patriot Ross Tucker thinks Belichick would be ‘the worst college coach I could ever imagine’
‘I mean, if they do it, they’ve gotta have cameras everywhere. The guy, when I was in New England, was like 100 percent negative reinforcement. I would love to just see how quickly those kids go into the transfer portal.’
But it appears the opposite is happening when it comes to transfers – as players have decided to remove themselves from the portal in the wake of the Belichick hire.
However, not all ex-Patriots believe that their former coach would struggle in the college ranks.
Former New England Patriots outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich joked that Belichick ‘does have experience recruiting young talent’ – referring to the age gap between the 72-year-old coach and his 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson.
Already, top recruits in the Class of 2026 are interested in meeting with Belichick – with the top quarterback recruit, Jared Curtis, saying that he wants to ‘get up there and meet him’.
Belichick’s introductory press conference takes place at 2:00 ET on Thursday.
North Carolina (6-6) still has one more game to play this season: the Fenway Bowl against the 8-4 UConn Huskies. Tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens will be calling the plays.
