Bill Belichick’s second season as North Carolina’s head coach will begin without defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, who remains on indefinite medical leave.
Steve Belichick is not expected to be with the Tar Heels when they open the 2026 season against TCU on Saturday, Aug. 29, in Dublin, Ireland. The 39-year-old coach, who is the son of the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach, has been away from the team since early August.
North Carolina has not provided further details about Steve Belichick’s medical situation or announced a timetable for his return. The program has also declined to release additional public information about his absence.
Bill Belichick expected to handle defensive play-calling
Steve Belichick’s absence leaves North Carolina without the coach responsible for coordinating a defense that must make significant improvements this season.
He served as the Tar Heels’ defensive coordinator last year after previously working on his father’s staff with the New England Patriots. Steve Belichick also spent the 2024 season as Washington’s defensive coordinator.
With Steve unavailable, Bill Belichick and defensive line coach Bob Diaco have reportedly worked together throughout the preseason to prepare the defense. Bill Belichick is expected to handle defensive play-calling duties against TCU, adding another major responsibility to his game-day role.
The veteran coach has previously declined to discuss his son’s medical leave in detail. Instead, he has emphasized that North Carolina’s defense is being prepared collectively by the coaching staff and that the group will continue working together despite Steve’s absence.
North Carolina faces TCU in Dublin
The adjustment will be tested immediately against TCU. The game will be North Carolina’s first international football matchup, with the Tar Heels traveling to Dublin for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic at Aviva Stadium.
Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET, and the game will air on ESPN.
There is significant pressure on Belichick in the season opener. His first season in Chapel Hill ended with a disappointing 4-8 record, leaving North Carolina needing to show meaningful progress in year two.
The program will hope the experience of its Hall of Fame-caliber head coach can produce better results on the field. After facing TCU, North Carolina will return home to prepare for East Tennessee State before beginning a demanding stretch of ACC play.
That schedule makes a strong opening performance even more important. For now, the Tar Heels must prepare for the season opener without Steve Belichick on the sideline.
His health remains the primary concern, but his absence also places additional responsibility on Bill Belichick and the rest of North Carolina’s defensive staff. How effectively the Tar Heels adjust without their defensive coordinator could become one of the early storylines of the 2026 season.
Source: www.marca.com
