How did North Carolina football do in NFL draft under Bill Belichick?

TL;DR

North Carolina football had a disappointing 2026 NFL Draft, failing to have any players selected for the first time since 2016. This outcome raises concerns for both the Tar Heels and Bill Belichick, who previously referred to the program as the NFL's '33rd team.'

Key points

North Carolina football had no players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft
This is the first time since 2016 that UNC failed to have a draft pick
Bill Belichick and Michael Lombardi referred to UNC as the NFL's '33rd team'
The draft took place in Pittsburgh
This outcome raises concerns for the Tar Heels' program

Mentioned in this story

Bill BelichickMichael LombardiPittsburgh

North Carolina Tar Heels2026 NFL Draft

How did North Carolina football do in NFL draft under Bill Belichick?

The 2026 NFL Draft is in the books, and it's one that North Carolina and Bill Belichick will likely want to forget about.

For the first time since 2016, the Tar Heels failed to have a single player selected with one of the 257 picks across the three-day event in Pittsburgh.

That takeaway is quite eye-opening, not just from a Power Four conference level, but also the fact that Belichick and UNC general manager Michael Lombardi dubbed the Tar Heels' program as the NFL's "33rd team" with their day-to-day operations and development from their first day in Chapel Hill.

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"Everything we do here is predicated on building a pro team," Lombardi said in February of 2025. "We consider ourselves the 33rd (NFL) team, 'cause everybody who’s involved in our program has had some form of aspect in pro football.'"

Q&A

Why did North Carolina football not have any players drafted in 2026?

North Carolina football failed to have any players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, marking a significant decline in their draft performance.

What does it mean that North Carolina was referred to as the NFL's '33rd team'?

The term '33rd team' suggests that North Carolina's football program was viewed as closely integrated with NFL operations, emphasizing their development and training approach.

How does Bill Belichick's involvement relate to North Carolina football's draft results?

Bill Belichick's involvement highlights the expectations placed on North Carolina football, making their lack of drafted players in 2026 particularly notable.

What impact does failing to draft players have on North Carolina football's future?

Failing to draft players can negatively affect North Carolina football's recruiting efforts and overall program reputation, potentially hindering future success.