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'33rd Team' as sad as Bill Belichick's dwindling coaching twilight | Opinion
TL;DR
Bill Belichick's coaching career is in decline, shifting from humor to sadness over time. The once laughable situation has become a serious concern for fans and analysts alike.
Key points
- Bill Belichick's coaching career is declining
- Perception has shifted from humor to sadness
- Concerns about the New England Patriots' future
- Highlights the end of an era in NFL coaching
'33rd Team' as sad as Bill Belichick's dwindling coaching twilight | Opinion
It was laughable on its face a year ago, when the declaration first arrived and provided humor.
Now it’s just sad.
Like everything else in Bill Belichick’s dwindling twilight as a football coach.
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The 33rd Team — the outlandish, self-ascribed moniker Belichick and general manager Michael Lombardi gave North Carolina when Belichick took control of everything in December of 2024 — whiffed in last week’s NFL Draft.
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Sonny Dykes (L) of the TCU Horned Frogs and head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels shake hands following their game at Kenan Stadium on September 01, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The TCU Horned Frogs defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 48-14. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 20: Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels walks off the field after losing 34-9 against the UCF Knights at FBC Mortgage Stadium on September 20, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Oct 4, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney with North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick before the game at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels and Jordon Hudson look on prior to the game against the Richmond Spiders at Kenan Memorial Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick watches his team during the first half against Central Florida at FBC Mortgage Stadium on Sept. 20, 2025 in Orlando, Fla.
North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick walks the sideline during the first quarter against the UCF Knights at the Bounce House Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 08: North Carolina Tar Heels football head coach Bill Belichick and his girlfriend Jordon Hudson look on during the first half of the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Blue Devils at Dean E. Smith Center on March 08, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Bill Belichick, North Carolina, $10,100,000
Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick on the sidelines in the second quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Sep 20, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick walks into the field before the game against the UCF Knights at the Bounce House Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick watches the Tabor Academy vs. Milton Academy game on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025.
Oct 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and girlfriend Jordon Hudson enter the field before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Navy Midshipmen at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick before the game at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Sep 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick with TCU Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes after the game at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick meets with a recruit before the Tar Heels hosted the TCU Horned Frogs on Sept. 1, 2025.
Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick before the game at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Richmond Spiders head coach Russ Huesman with North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick after the game at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 06: Head Coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels walks off the field after the football game against the Charlotte 49ers at Jerry Richardson Stadium on September 06, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on during the second half of the game at Kenan Stadium on September 01, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick looks on before his Tar Heels faced the TCU Horned Frogs in Belichick's collegiate coaching debut.
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick, right, embraces TCU head coach Sonny Dykes after TCU defeated UNC, 48-14 on Sept. 1, 2025.
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during the first half of the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Kenan Stadium on September 01, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels walks off the field following the completion of the first half of the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Kenan Stadium on September 01, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Sonny Dykes (L) of the TCU Horned Frogs and head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels shake hands following their game at Kenan Stadium on September 01, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The TCU Horned Frogs defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 48-14. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Sonny Dykes (L) of the TCU Horned Frogs and head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels shake hands following their game at Kenan Stadium on September 01, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The TCU Horned Frogs defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 48-14. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 20: Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels walks off the field after losing 34-9 against the UCF Knights at FBC Mortgage Stadium on September 20, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
Oct 4, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney with North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick before the game at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels and Jordon Hudson look on prior to the game against the Richmond Spiders at Kenan Memorial Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick watches his team during the first half against Central Florida at FBC Mortgage Stadium on Sept. 20, 2025 in Orlando, Fla.
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick walks the sideline during the first quarter against the UCF Knights at the Bounce House Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 08: North Carolina Tar Heels football head coach Bill Belichick and his girlfriend Jordon Hudson look on during the first half of the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Blue Devils at Dean E. Smith Center on March 08, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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Bill Belichick, North Carolina, $10,100,000
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick on the sidelines in the second quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
Sep 20, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick walks into the field before the game against the UCF Knights at the Bounce House Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick watches the Tabor Academy vs. Milton Academy game on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025.
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
Oct 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and girlfriend Jordon Hudson enter the field before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Navy Midshipmen at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick before the game at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
Sep 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick with TCU Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes after the game at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick meets with a recruit before the Tar Heels hosted the TCU Horned Frogs on Sept. 1, 2025.
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick before the game at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Richmond Spiders head coach Russ Huesman with North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick after the game at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 06: Head Coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels walks off the field after the football game against the Charlotte 49ers at Jerry Richardson Stadium on September 06, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on during the second half of the game at Kenan Stadium on September 01, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick looks on before his Tar Heels faced the TCU Horned Frogs in Belichick's collegiate coaching debut.
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick, right, embraces TCU head coach Sonny Dykes after TCU defeated UNC, 48-14 on Sept. 1, 2025.
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during the first half of the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Kenan Stadium on September 01, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels walks off the field following the completion of the first half of the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Kenan Stadium on September 01, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Apparently, the 32 NFL teams weren’t too pumped about Belichick’s gutting and rebuilding of the North Carolina roster in the 2025 season. That’s 257 players drafted, and not one selected from the program currently led by the greatest coach in NFL history.
More than 100 players on the UNC roster, and Belichick and his high-paid staff — including Lombardi and defensive coordinator Stephen Belichick — couldn’t manage to acquire and develop one lousy player the NFL deemed draft worthy.
Not even a flippin’ seventh rounder, where teams take flyers all the time on projects, players with legal issues, speed to burn, or players who just haven’t yet put it all together.
Not one North Carolina player.
This, of course, is the perfect ending to the first season of What You Get for $10 million annually. And it’s here where we start firing more facts about the 33rd team under Beli and The Muse.
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North Carolina won four games in Belichick’s first season as a college head coach, the lowest number of wins at the school since Larry Fedora’s back-to-back 3- and 2-win seasons in 2017-2018.
Fedora, one of the true good dudes in the coaching fraternity, is no longer in the business.
North Carolina lost to state rivals Duke, NC State and Wake Forest in the same season for the first time since 1989 — during Mack Brown’s first run of the program.
Brown, the best dude ever in the coaching fraternity, is no longer in the business.
North Carolina began the 2025 season with 70 new players, a roster Belichick and Lombardi constructed after running off players they didn’t feel could cut it.
They know talent, people. Don’t be ridiculous.
Not only did no one from the gutted and rebuilt roster get selected by the NFL to play at the highest level of football, but Belichick and Lombardi were at it again as soon as the Tar Heels skulked off the field with the last of three straight losses (to those same state rivals) to finish the season.
More than 30 players were sent packing, and 61 were added (41 high school/junior college recruits, 20 players from the transfer portal), and here we go again. Another reboot, another opportunity for the 33rd team to make its mark.
The recruiting class was ranked 17th by the 247Sports composite on quantity, not necessarily quality. Only three of the 41 were nationally ranked, and the transfer portal class was ranked 50th.
Fifty.
Trailing notable powers Northwestern, Purdue, Mississippi State, and … do I need to continue?
Football at all levels revolves around roster building. Getting the right players, and developing those players to reach their ceilings as quickly as possible.
North Carolina was 120th out of 135 FBS teams in scoring offense in 2025. The Tar Heels were 90th in turnover ratio, 111th in penalties, 97th in third down conversions, 104th in opponent third down conversions, and 123rd in long scrimmage plays.
Boy, it’s absolutely shocking why the NFL passed on the 33rd team.
But there’s hope on the horizon, and it has nothing to do with the 2027 recruiting class and it’s early sprint from the gate as the 50th-ranked class in the nation. Belichick may have found a quarterback, and more important, he finally realized he needed a real, legit college coach on his staff.
So he hired Bobby Petrino to run the offense and coach the quarterbacks. A mercenary yes, but one helluva mercenary who knows how to coach quarterbacks and call plays as well as anyone in the game.
That leaves us with four-star freshman quarterback Travis Burgess, who enrolled early and competed in spring drills against a deep quarterback room that includes transfers Billy Edwards (Wisconsin/Maryland) and Taron Dickens (FCS Western Carolina).
Burgess is big (6-4, 200 pounds), has a live arm — and Petrino isn’t intimidated by playing a freshman.
“Last year, everyone was brand new,” Belichick said earlier this month. “There is no question we’re definitely better.”
Now it’s time to provide wins instead of sad humor.
And maybe a few draft-worthy players in 2027.
Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL sent a clear message to Bill Belichick’s UNC football project
Q&A
What does Bill Belichick's coaching twilight refer to?
Bill Belichick's coaching twilight refers to the decline of his effectiveness and success as a head coach in the NFL.
How has the perception of Bill Belichick changed over the past year?
The perception of Bill Belichick has shifted from finding humor in his situation to viewing it as a sad decline in his coaching career.
What impact does Bill Belichick's decline have on the New England Patriots?
Bill Belichick's decline may negatively affect the New England Patriots' performance and future prospects as a competitive team.
Why is the situation surrounding Bill Belichick considered sad?
The situation is considered sad because it highlights the end of an era for a coach who has been highly successful but is now struggling.