North Carolina releases details on Bill Belichick’s contract

On By Littum

Bill Belichick has officially signed his North Carolina contract.

Thursday released the school 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 working 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.”

The annual income places Belichick among the top-10 highest paid coaches in college football. According to USA Today’s database, seven coaches earned at least $10 million by 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 reaches 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 bonus of $1.75 million. Belichick’s bowl bonus is at least $150,000, and he would 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 outlines the widely reported Belichick buyout provision. If Belichick terminates 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.

Several NFL teams had reportedly reached out to Belichick following the conclusion of the regular season. But Belichick said in his initial press conference that he didn’t come to Chapel Hill “to leave,” and several others have confirmed Belichick’s commitment.

And while Belichick’s buyout is very small from this summer, it’s much more significant on North Carolina’s side. If the school moves to fire him without cause at any point before the end of 2027, Belichick is owed whatever remains of his $1 million annual base salary and any earned and unpaid bonuses and supplemental income.