Bill Belichick made his return to New England for the first time since coaching the New England Patriots. Belichick coached the Patriots from 2000 to 2023, reaching nine Super Bowls and winning a record six titles as a head coach. He went 30-12 in the postseason and finished with an overall record of 296-133 with the team.
On Jan. 11, 2024, Belichick and the Patriots agreed to part ways. Former quarterback Tom Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl winner, reacted to the news on Instagram, calling him “the best coach in the history of the NFL,” according to ESPN.
On Dec. 11, 2024, Belichick was named head coach at the University of North Carolina. He made his Tar Heels debut on Sept. 1, 2025.
In his second season with North Carolina, Belichick returns north to New England to face the Connecticut Huskies.
“Connecticut was one of the first schools besides Navy that I really took an interest in,” Belichick said in a press conference ahead of the game.
Belichick was once considered for the Huskies’ head coaching job, but the school went in a different direction, hiring Jason Candle from Toledo.
“We’re not playing the New England Patriots from 15 years ago. We’re playing the North Carolina Tar Heels, and thank God Tom Brady is not walking out of that locker room Saturday,” said Coach Candle in his weekly pregame press conference.
Despite all of Belichick’s success in the NFL, college football is completely different, with players in and out of programs within a few years. Belichick holds an 8-11 record through his first two seasons with the Tar Heels, proving college football is a different environment compared to the professional level.
UConn fans have additional excitement with this game besides the fact they are facing the Tar Heels. It’s the Huskies’ third Power Four opponent they’ve hosted this season, falling in the previous two matchups.
Hours before kickoff, the tailgates outside Pratt and Whitney Stadium filled with fans from both sides, and many had strong feelings about Belichick’s return.
“It’s New England, and a lot of fans are Patriot fans. I’m one of them,” said Jim Haley. “I want him to do well, but we’re rooting against him today.”
Some fans enjoyed seeing Belichick on the sideline, even if it was on the opposing side. For others, they dealt with him enough in the NFL and didn’t want to play him in college.
“Well, I’m not a big Bill Belichick fan, so I’m hoping to see him lose just like I did when he was with the Patriots,” said Jim Indelicato.
Indelicato is a Buffalo Bills fan, a team the New England Patriots commonly faced being in the same division.
The teams took the field, and many fans gathered near the tunnel to grab the closest photo of Belichick as he returned to New England.
Both teams struggled to find the end zone early after UNC quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. threw an interception in the Tar Heels’ opening drive. The Huskies then marched down the field but missed a 45-yard field goal attempt wide left.
It was the defense for Carolina that put them on the board first with a 70-yard pick-six by Timir Hickman-Collins. Collins had an all-star performance on defense for the Tar Heels, adding a fumble recovery to his achievements.
An explosive second quarter fueled North Carolina, scoring 21 points. Edwards Jr. shared the wealth, finding Jordan Shipp and Jelani Thurman after Benjamin Hall ran for a 39-yard touchdown.
UConn tried to stay with UNC but stayed behind 28-14 at the half. A quick score in the third quarter brought the Huskies within a score, but the Tar Heels ended the game with a field goal and a late touchdown to finish the job, winning 38-21.
“They put a lot of pressure on us. We had a little trouble with that early,” said Belichick after the game. “In the end, proud of our guys stepping up.”
The win was big for Belichick, but he was happy to share it with his players.
“It means a lot to me for the team; I’m happy for the team. We lost two tough games the past two weeks. I’m happy today things worked out for them, and they’re able to celebrate in the locker room. It’s great,” said Belichick.
A big weekend for New England’s championship-winning coach, as he made his first return to the place he built his legacy.
For one Saturday, the man who defined an era in New England was a visitor.