Where Bill Belichick ranks among highest-paid college football coaches in 2025

Bill Belichick decided to take over the North Carolina Tar Heels football program after establishing himself as a coaching great in the NFL. While many things haven't gone to plan in Chapel Hill, he appears to be committed to the process of rebuilding.  

UNC has a 2-5 record and still searching for their first ACC win. The lackluster first season for Belichick has put a spotlight on many details, including his contract. He took a massive pay cut to transition to college. It's more than half of the $25 million he was paid during his final year with the New England Patriots in 2023. 

However, at the time, Belichick deemed it as the best option to reset his coaching career and get out from under Robert Kraft and the Pats. 

Bill Belichick's contract

Belichick is currently ninth on college football's highest-paid coaches at $10.1 million per year, according to USA TODAY Sports. This first three years of his deal are fully-guaranteed. Also, Belichick's max bonuses are $3.35 million per year, which is fifth nationally and top in the ACC. 

5-year, $50.5 million

$3.35 million max bonus

$841,666 per game

$420,833 per half

$210,416 per quarter

$14,027 per minute of game time on the field 

Bill Belichick's bonus structure

This one is difficult for the NFL GOAT. A significant portion of his bonus potential is gone. He can't eclipse the eight-win plateau, won't take his team to the College Football Playoff, and won't pick up any Coach of the Year honors. Better luck next year on all of those.

Belichick is still eligible for academic performance bonus of $250k, and four more wins will put the $150k bowl bonus on the books.  

$100,000 for ACC Coach of the Year

$250,000 for a National Coach of the Year award.

Academic Bonuses
Team GPA: Up to $150,000 for achieving a 3.0 GPA or higher.

Academic Progress Report (APR): A bonus of $100,000 if the team's APR is between 950 and 969, with additional bonuses for higher performance.

Bill Belichick's Buyout

If North Carolina were to fire Belichick before Dec. 31 2027, the school would owe him everything he was set to be paid up to that date. That would be around $20.8 million, which is one-third of the $60 million figure for Clemson to part ways with Dabo Swinney, according to USA TODAY Sports. 

Belichick would owe UNC $10 million if he were to leave before the first of the year. That buyout drops to $1 million after the 2025 season. 

Bill Belichick's cost per win

As the 2025 season drags on into the final month, Belichick and UNC will only leave the state of North Carolina once. One mind-numbing stat is cost per win. The highest the Tar Heels can finish is 7-5, but if they remain winless in ACC play, it's $5.05 million per win. Not a solid return on investment. 

7-5: $1.4 million

6-6: $1.6 million 

5-7: $2 million 

4-8: $2.52 million 

3-9: $3.36 million 

2-10: $5.05 million

Belichick and UNC will try their luck at Syracuse on a Halloween Friday night (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).