The move of Bill Belichick in North Carolina involved a lot of decision -makers, but it was the Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who helped to conclude an agreement between the two parties in motion, according to a new report.
Belichick, 72, officially signed a $ 50 million contract over five years with the Tar Heels in January, about a year after he and the Patriots separated after 24 seasons.
And as indicated in a new ESPN piece, Belichick took advantage of his relationship with Rubio – now the Secretary of State – to alert the UNC of his interest in the job of head coach.
According to the report, Belichick contacted his longtime friend Rubio in November to throw his hat in the ring for the position (which was then still held by Mack Brown).
Rubio would have then contacted the Northern Caroline Thom Tillis Senator Thom Tillis, who then contacted the President of the North Carolina Senate, Pro Tempore, Phil Berger, described as someone with “solid links with UNC electric players”.
Shortly after, as Espn wrote, the prosecution of Belichick became “a hell that rages among the main stakeholders” at UNC, with Belichick being finally accepted in principle to join the school on December 11.
Bill Belichick joined UNC as a head coach after 24 seasons at the head of the New England Patriots
Belichick would have exploited his relationship with Marco Rubio to express his interest in work
The Belichick team started spring training this week, with the 72 -year -old man seen on the sidelines
“Rubio follows the world of sport closely, and he called me and said to me:” There is a chance that Belichick would come to Chapel Hill, “Tillis told Espn.
“He said:” He wants a school with a great academic reputation, and he wants to try to build a program to bring them a national championship. I said, “Well, let me go (make a few calls).”
Tillis continued later: “It’s the Get of the College Football World. “When the opportunity arose, I thought that any similar stature school – the prosecutor, they would have envisaged even if they were satisfied with their coach. I think it will build a program that shows that you can have excellent students athletes and a real shot in a national championship.
Rubio’s son Anthony is a return tour at the University of Florida, and the politician himself is known as a big football fan.
During his unsuccessful candidacy in 2016 for the president, Rubio even jokingly suggested that he would name Belichick as defense secretary.
The Tar Heels, which start their season on September 1 against TCU, started spring training this week under Belichick.
However, the winner eight times of the Super Bowl (six as head coaches) would not be in Chapel Hill if the UNC had his first choice for work.
According to the ESPN report, the school initially targeted the former coach of Falcons Arthur Smith, who also played for school.
Smith, now the Steelers attacking coordinator, was dismissed by Atlanta in January 2024 after taking 21-30.
It was only after Smith told journalists that he was satisfied with the NFL that research has opened.
