Bill Belichick has officially signed his North Carolina contract.
On Thursday, the school released the text of Belichick’s deal through the end of 2029 after the six-time Super Bowl-winning coach was announced as UNC’s head coach in December. Since his introduction, Belichick had been operating on a binding offer sheet.
Belichick, 72, is set to make $10 million per season, though his base salary with the school is just $1 million. The other $9 million comes via monthly “supplemental income.”
That annual income places Belichick among the top-10 highest-paid coaches in college football. Per USA Today’s database, seven coaches made at least $10 million in 2024. Georgia’s Kirby Smart was the highest-paid coach in college football at over $13 million.
The contract is structured similarly to other coaching contracts across college football. If North Carolina makes the College Football Playoff, Belichick will get a bonus of at least $750,000. If the team wins the national title, Belichick would get a $1.75 million bonus. Belichick’s bowl bonus is at least $150,000, and he’d get $350,000 if the team made an “elite” non-playoff bowl game like the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Gator Bowl or Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
If the Tar Heels finish a season ranked in the top 25 of the College Football Playoff rankings, Belichick will receive at least $250,000.
The contract does outline the widely reported provision of Belichick’s buyout. If Belichick ends the North Carolina deal at any point before June 1, the university is owed $10 million. That buyout drops to $1 million on June 1.
Multiple NFL teams had reportedly reached out to Belichick after the conclusion of the regular season. But Belichick said at his introductory news conference that he didn’t come to Chapel Hill “to leave” and multiple others have reaffirmed Belichick’s commitment.
And while Belichick’s buyout is very small starting this summer, it’s much more significant on North Carolina’s side. If the school moves to fire him without cause anytime before the end of 2027, Belichick is owed whatever’s remaining on his $1 million annual base salary and any earned and unpaid bonuses and supplemental income.
