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Tom Brady Reacts to Bill Belichick Becoming UNC HC: 'Kind of Blew Me Away'

Taylyn HadleyDecember 16, 2024

FOXBOROUGH, MA - NOVEMBER 24:   Tom Brady #12 talks to head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots before a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Gillette Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.  (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

Tom Brady, Bill Belichick's longtime quarterback with the New England Patriots, was just as shocked as the rest of the football world when Belichick took the University of North Carolina head coaching position this week.

"Kind of blew me away when I heard the news," Brady said during Sunday's broadcast of the Philadelphia Eagles' win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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"Kind of blew me away when I heard the news." <a href="https://twitter.com/TomBrady?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TomBrady</a> shared his thoughts on Bill Belichick becoming head coach at UNC 👏 <a href="https://twitter.com/CFBONFOX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CFBonFOX</a> <a href="https://t.co/GpZmUZwG3P">pic.twitter.com/GpZmUZwG3P</a>

Despite his surprise, Brady had nothing but praise for the veteran coach as he ventures into new territory.

"I didn't think that was an opportunity he was looking at but they're getting an obviously tremendous coach," Brady said during his Fox broadcast on Sunday. "Being in that locker room with him for as many years (as I was), those guys are going to play very hard (and) he's going to coach them well. It's a great benefit for all those players going to that program, because ether getting the best coach that the NFL has ever seen, now he's at a college level."

Brady joked that the recruiting calls might be a struggle for Belcichik as he is not the "warmest and fuzziest of all times."

Along with Brady former teammate and player of Belichick Tedy Bruschi, a former linebacker expressed his opinion on Belichick's new path.

"What are we doing here? I mean, with Bill Belichick going to coach North Carolina. I mean, college football — there's only one bowl game I want to see Bill Belichick coaching and that's the Super Bowl, OK?" Bruschi said, per Fox Sports' Ryan Gaydos. "I don't want to see him coaching some Lawnmower Bowl in December or January. That's just not who I am."

Belichick landed the job last week after reportedly inquiring about a head coach opening with the New York Jets. But the time crunch between the Jets giving an answer and the Tarheels needing a decision ultimately led to the demise of his stay in the NFL and his arrival in college football.

At 72 years old, Belichick has never coached at the college level. He began his NFL career in 1975 with the Baltimore Colts, which eventually led to his 24-year tenure as head coach of the Patriots until 2023.

The six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach will certainly draw attention to the Tar Heels next season.