Bill Belichick becoming the North Carolina Tar Heels coach has the football world talking.
Jets linebacker Chazz Surratt, who played for UNC from 2016-20, is excited about the six-time Super Bowl winner leading the Tar Heels.
“I think it is a good hire,” Surratt told the Daily News. “A little surprise as I didn’t think he would go to the college landscape with how it is with NIL [name, image, and likeness] and everything, but I’m looking forward with what he does with the program.
“I’m sure I will be back for a couple of games in the future. I’m excited for the future of the program.
Belichick, 72, was officially announced as North Carolina’s coach during an introductory press conference on Thursday. He signed a five-year, $50 million contract approved by the board of trustees during an emergency meeting on Thursday.
From 1975 to 2023, Belichick coached in the NFL either as an associate coach, defensive coordinator, or head coach until he and the Patriots parted ways following last season. This will be Belichick’s first college coaching job.
He replaces Mack Brown, 73, the winningest coach in UNC football history. Brown was fired after a 6-6 season in his second stint at the school. He went 44-33 over the last six seasons in Chapel Hill and 113-79-1 overall.
Belichick’s father, Steve, was an assistant coach at North Carolina from 1953-55.
“How you would have told me Bill Belichick was going to be the head coach for North Carolina, I wouldn’t believed you,” Surratt said. “For it to happen, it is kind of like a fever dream almost. You really don’t put two and two together.
“Then, I’m seeing the Instagram, seeing the press release and all of that and it is a real thing. I’m just excited for the program and hopefully they can build on this momentum with recruiting and win some games and get back to the ACC Championship.”
Now, Belichick will be tasked with bringing North Carolina into relevance. The Tar Heels haven’t won an ACC championship since 1980, when Belichick’s former player with the Giants, Lawrence Taylor, was there and was named the conference’s Player of the Year.
This won’t be the first time Belichick is tasked with building a program. He did that during his 23 seasons with the Patriots. Not only did Belichick win six Super Bowls In New England, but he also won nine AFC Championships and 17 AFC division titles.
“I think UNC has the best of both with sports and academics,” Surratt said. “I loved my time there and won a lot of games when I was there and ended up in the Orange Bowl. So, we have a chance to be a real football powerhouse.
“Geography-wise, we get recruits from Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, so it has the ability to be a big-time program.”
During his introductory press conference, Belichick’s first words were “Beat Duke.”
“I feel like, Duke, we run the state,” Jets cornerback Michael Carter II, who attended Duke, said about Belichick. “I’m sure he will get things right and they will be competitive like it always is when Duke plays UNC.”