Savannah Bananas put Bill Belichick to work during Chapel Hill stop

NFL coaching legend Bill Belichick is in full rebuilding mode entering his second season leading the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Amid high hopes, the 2025 Tar Heels finished 4-8. North Carolina dropped its final three games to rivals Wake Forest, Duke and NC State by double-digit margins.

But Belichick didn’t cut and run from college football. The six-time Super Bowl champion is right back in Chapel Hill, directing spring practice and looking for improvement.

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On Saturday, April 11, Belichick took a break to try his hand at coaching first base for the Savannah Bananas. The Bananas took on the Texas Tailgaters in the first of a two-game series at UNC’s Kenan Stadium.

“Let’s hear it for Coach Bill Belichick,” Bananas founder and emcee Jesse Cole bellowed.

The eternally grumpy Belichick was in great spirits, doffing his cap to the crowd while sporting a signature cut-off hoodie with a Bananas logo. The popular barnstorming exhibition baseball team drew 50,000 fans.

In fact, Belichick even got the opportunity to help out the Bananas. Belichick screamed “No” and made the safe signal as the Tailgaters completed a line-drive double play with a throw to first base. Then, he responded by throwing a bright yellow challenge flag.

“The ruling on the field is … overturned!” the umpire announced.

Consequently, Belichick may have made a difference. The Bananas came away with a 6-5 victory over the Tailgaters.

Meanwhile, Belichick brought in former Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Bobby Petrino to be his offensive coordinator at UNC. The Tar Heels hope Western Carolina Catamounts quarterback Taron Dickens can win the quarterback job and provide an upgrade for an offense that struggled last season.

The Tar Heels open the season Aug. 29 against the TCU Horned Frogs in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland.

Belichick made news earlier this year when he failed to qualify for the Pro Football Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility. Belichick won six Super Bowls as the head coach of the New England Patriots and two more as a defensive coordinator with Bill Parcells’ New York Giants.