University of North Carolina defensive coordinator Steve Belichick is not expected to join the Tar Heels in Dublin for their first game of the 2026 season, according to a report from On3 Sports and Inside Carolina.
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UNC coach Bill Belichick’s son Steve Belichick has been on medical leave since Aug. 6. Bill Belichick was asked Monday whether he had an update on his son’s status, and did not provide details on that or whether he will call plays for the defense.
“Yeah, no updates,” Belichick said when asked whether there was an update to Steve’s status now that UNC is in game week.
“Yeah, I’m not really going to talk about that situation,” Belichick added when asked about the play-calling duties. “We’ll work it out.”
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Bill Belichick added later that he’s confident in his staff and himself regardless of who needs to step up to fulfil that role. Several players and Bill Belichick indicated that Steve Belichick’s responsibilities have been shared among the group in the defensive coordinator’s absence.
Steve Belichick joined the Tar Heels’ staff after his father was named the program’s coach last offseason, and is now entering his second season at the helm of UNC’s defense. He previously served as Washington’s defensive coordinator under coach Jedd Fisch.
The Tar Heels went 4-8 in year one of the Bill Belichick era and were a middle-of-the-pack ACC defense under Steve Belichick, ranking eighth in the conference with 24.5 points allowed per game.
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