North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick gives cryptic update on son Steve as he goes on medical leave

After a disaster of a season in 2025, in which the team went 4-9, North Carolina was hoping for a rebound season in 2026. UNC has not even taken to the field for the 2026 season, and things are not going well. The university is under investigation for NIL violations, while North Carolina GM Michael Lombardi has been placed on leave.

Now, things keep getting worse for Bill Belichick and North Carolina, as Steve Belichick has been placed on medical leave, according to Spencer Haskell of On3.

“Just want to let everyone know that my son Steve’s on medical leave, and look forward to getting him back as soon as possible,” Bill Belichick said. “It’s a medical situation so I really can’t make any further comment on that.”

Steve has long worked for his father. After playing both lacrosse and football at Rutgers, he joined his father’s staff with the New England Patriots. He would work as a defensive assistant from 2012 through 2015, before becoming the safeties coach, and staying with the team through 2023. He would then become a defensive coordinator for the first time in 2024 at Washington, before joining the elder Belichick at North Carolina in 2025.

Brian Belichick, Bill’s son and Steve’s brother, is also on the staff. The elder Belichick is confident that the rest of his staff can step up.

“All the people on the defensive staff,” he said. “We coach the defense collectively as a staff, and so we’ll continue to do that. Those (coaches) are involved with everybody.”

Belichick had previously noted the progress the defense was making, discussing the group last week.

“We’re ahead of where we were last year,” Belichick said last week about his defense. “Again, just the fact that nearly everybody was here this year through the spring and through the summer … we’re not starting from scratch. We have better evaluation of the players, and they’re further ahead.”

The Tar Heels open their season on August 29 against TCU in Dublin, Ireland.

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