Coaching legend Bill Belichick may be one step closer to returning to the sidelines, but not where many would have expected him to end up.

Belichick interviewed for the head coaching job at North Carolina this week, Inside North Carolina reported Thursday.

The six-time Super Bowl champion coach is said to be one of several candidates the school has spoken to since firing Mack Brown on Nov. 26.

Others UNC has interviewed include Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall and Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann, but Belichick immediately becomes the biggest name linked to the job.

A separate report by Andrew Carter of The News and Observer suggested that Belichick’s interest in the position was “deep and sincere” and that UNC officials were overwhelmed during the interview.

However, Belichick’s age and lack of experience coaching college football would make the hire “extremely unlikely.”

It was always expected that Belichick would return to coaching – although some recent reports suggested that his relationship with 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson could play a role in his coaching future – and many believed that this was due to NFL level would happen.

Even recently, Belichick’s name came up in connection with a possible opening in Jacksonville should the Jaguars decide to move on from Doug Pederson.

Belichick had coached the Patriots for 24 seasons before the two teams agreed to part ways after last season, when the team went 4-13 in a disastrous year for New England.

The future Hall of Fame head coach had been interviewed for the Falcons job shortly after the Pats were eliminated, but the job ultimately went to Raheem Morris, who had been the Rams’ defensive coordinator before getting the job in Atlanta.

Until the report, it was not believed that Belichick had been linked to any college coaching positions.

Belichick has publicly focused on his diverse media projects during the 2024 football season.

The once fierce coach, who often kept the media at arm’s length during his coaching days, has become a regular on “The Pat McAfee Show,” hosts a podcast with Underdog Fantasy, and appears on the CW’s “Inside the NFL” and even joined Instagram.

Belichick’s relationship with Hudson has also been the subject of tabloids since it became public knowledge over the summer after TMZ broke the story of the love affair, although the two have reportedly been quietly dating since 2022.

In mid-October, a Daily Mail report suggested that Belichick was at “some crossroads” due to his satisfaction with his relationship with the former college cheerleader, who is 48 years his junior.

In a report from The Athletic the following month, a source was quoted as saying that “coaching is in his blood,” suggesting that Belichick has not backed away from the idea of ​​returning to a sideline football role in 2025.