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For Bill Belichick, greatness was never guaranteed-nor even encouraged. The man widely regarded as the greatest football coach of all time almost never stepped foot on the sidelines.
In an ironic twist, his father, the late Steve Belichick, a football lifer himself, once tried to steer Bill away from coaching altogether.
Despite Steve's deep roots in the game, he was acutely aware of coaching's economic instability. As a scout and longtime coach at Navy, he rarely saw the financial fruits of his labor. That reality shaped his advice to his son. On ESPN's College GameDay podcast, Bill recalled his father's cautionary words.
"You don't make any money in coaching. Just go get a job," Belichick told ESPN.
Instead of pushing Bill into football, Steve wanted his son to become a graduate assistant to help fund a higher education-not to build a coaching career. Bill followed through-just not in the way his father intended.
After sending out over 100 applications and hearing back from only a few, it was Lou Holtz who gave Belichick his first coaching opportunity at NC State. That single decision would pivot football history, setting the foundation for a career that includes eight Super Bowl rings and an indelible NFL dynasty.
Three Generations, One Game: The Belichicks in Chapel Hill
The story has come full circle, and now the Belichick name is stitched into the fabric of North Carolina football. Bill Belichick recently ed the Tar Heels in a new role, and standing beside him is his son, Stephen Belichick-named after his grandfather. Steve, as he's often called, is the program's new defensive coordinator after a recent stint in the same role at Washington and more than a decade on the Patriots' staff.
This move continues a tradition of mentorship between father and son, one that's already proven successful at the highest levels. While coaching alongside family can often backfire due to blurred boundaries or perceived nepotism, Bill sees it differently.
"It's been great, a really great experience...you miss so many things when your kids are growing up. Now we get to work together," he told the College GameDay podcast.
More than just a sentimental arrangement, the partnership works because of its honesty.
"Not everybody on your staff will challenge you," Belichick added.
"But your kids will come in and be like, 'What are you doing!'"
That candor, he believes, cuts through the usual coaching echo chamber and gives him a competitive edge.
Still, the decision to bring his son into such a high-profile role at UNC isn't without risks. If results on the field don't meet expectations, criticism will surely follow. But that's always been the nature of coaching-a volatile job with high stakes.
Looking ahead to the fall, the Tar Heels are banking on more than just football pedigree. They're trusting in the rare chemistry and experience that three generations of Belichicks have brought to the game. And for Bill, ignoring his father's advice all those years ago might have been the best decision he ever made.