North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick will be joined on the sidelines in 2025 by his son, Steve Belichick, who is serving as the Tar Heels’ defensive coordinator.
Steve enters his 15th year of coaching and his second as a defensive coordinator after spending the 2024 season leading Washington’s defense. Prior to that, he worked for more than a decade on his father’s staff with the New England Patriots (2012–23), holding roles from defensive assistant to outside linebackers coach, and winning three Super Bowls. He also took over defensive play-calling duties in 2019 when the Patriots led the NFL in defense.
Steve, the youngest son of Bill Belichick, played lacrosse at Rutgers before transitioning to football as a long snapper. After Bill Belichick became UNC’s head coach, he hired Steve away from Washington in 2025.
His career path so far:
- 2012–15: Defensive assistant, Patriots
- 2016–18: Safeties coach, Patriots
- 2019: Defensive backs coach, Patriots
- 2020–23: Outside linebackers coach, Patriots
- 2024: Defensive coordinator, Washington Huskies
- 2025–present: Defensive coordinator, North Carolina Tar Heels
The Tar Heels open the 2025 season against TCU on Sept. 1 at Kenan Memorial Stadium.