Bill Belichick is finalizing preparations ahead of the college football season, where he will work as head coach at UNC. He’ll have the support of a familiar face from his New England Patriots days, as a former Patriots linebacker joins the staff to assist with defensive duties.
According to InsideCarolina on X, former Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins is set to join UNC as a defensive analyst. Collins, who last played professionally in 2022, will work alongside Belichick to help strengthen the Tar Heels’ defense for the upcoming season.
Collins won a Super Bowl ring with Belichick and Tom Brady in 2015, playing a key role in New England’s 28-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. A former Patriots draft pick, he also spent three NFL seasons with the Browns and played for the Detroit Lions between 2020 and 2021.
This will be Collins’ first experience on a coaching staff. It seems his intention is to begin building a career in this area, aiming to rise to positions such as defensive coordinator or even head coach.
Why Would Belichick Need Help with UNC’s Defense?
The Tar Heels haven’t fared too badly in the past six seasons, but only once in those six years, in 2022, did they finish in the top spot of the Coastal Division (back when the ACC had two divisions). They reached the championship game, where they were crushed by Clemson 10-39. They hadn’t achieved something like that since the 2015 season, marking the only two times in the 21st century they accomplished it.
During the six years of outgoing head coach Mack Brown, the Tar Heels’ defense helped the team win just one Bowl game—the 2019 Military Bowl against Temple, with a score of 55-13. They had four winning seasons out of six. This foundation is what Belichick would need to improve with people like Collins to ensure it doesn’t deteriorate and to make the necessary adjustments.