“1,000-Percent Committed”: Michael Lombardi Shuts Down Bill Belichick NFL Return Over Tom Brady Link Rumors

Bill Belichick will not be returning to the NFL any time soon, despite rumors going around that Tom Brady might hire him as the next head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders. Michael Lombardi, who is the general manager of the North Carolina Tar Heels football team, where Belichick serves as coach, came out to dispel the rumors.

It is true that Brady is deeply involved in hunting for the next head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders, who recently fired Antonio Pierce after a disastrous season. Brady became a minor owner of the franchise, and his knowledge and expertise of football will come in handy when getting new personnel for the team. It is also true that Brady has been in touch with Belichick, but perhaps this was only for counsel and not to lure him away from the Tar Heels.

“Completely committed, 1,000-percent committed.” Michael Lombardi said on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ on Thursday, when asked about Bill Belichick’s commitment to North Carolina.

“Bill Belichick is completely committed to North Carolina..

That story about him going to the NFL was a complete falsehood and that story had no legs”@mlombardiNFL #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/XRA3pzw5FY

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 9, 2025

“But don’t assume that just because he’s doing that he wants Bill Belichick. Bill Belichick is committed to North Carolina. He committed it to me, he committed it to the university. There has been no conversation about anything.” Lombardi reaffirmed Belichick’s dedication to the University of North Carolina.

Despite coaching many high-performing teams in the NFL over the course of his career, it came as a surprise when Bill Belichick announced that he is moving to college football. Lombardi also discussed this in the episode, remarking that the move might have come because college teams are easier to build as competitive teams, unlike the NFL.

Dec 14, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head football coach Bill Belichick is introduced during half time at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Bill Belichick Drops Opinion On Eagles Not Allowing Barkley To Break Record

In the last game of their regular season, the Philadelphia Eagles played against the New York Giants and won 20-13. Despite his impressive numbers in the season, Saquon Barkley was rested. This ultimately disallowed him from breaking a record for most yards in a season, which is currently held by Eric Dickerson who achieved the feat back in 1984.

While it was certainly painful for both Barkley and the Giants, the decision was ‘about championship’ according to Bill Belichick, who discussed the topic in the ‘Let’s Go’ podcast. The University of North Carolina coach said he personally would have preferred to see Barkley play and break his record, resting him definitely served the team much better, who will play the Green Bay Packers next for the Wild Card round.

Dec 12, 2024; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels new head coach Bill Belichick speaks to those attending his hiring announcement at Loudermilk Center for Excellence. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

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