CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The debut of NFL legend Bill Belichick as head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels football team on Monday night is drawing an extraordinary level of attention, highlighted by a remarkable guest list of Tar Heel legends attending the game against the TCU Horned Frogs.
Among the star-studded crowd expected at Kenan Memorial Stadium are North Carolina icons Michael Jordan and Mia Hamm, whose presence symbolizes the historic and cultural weight surrounding Belichick’s transition to college football at his alma mater.
Michael Jordan, widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, played three seasons for the Tar Heels from 1981 to 1984, famously clinching the 1982 NCAA basketball national championship with a game-winning shot. His deep ties to the university complement his ongoing involvement with the Tar Heels’ program. According to North Carolina football general manager Michael Lombardi, Jordan’s engagement transcends financial backing, emphasizing the significance of his support and the Jordan Brand partnership with the university’s athletic programs.
“Look, Michael Jordan’s presence is more important than opening up his billfold,” Lombardi commented during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. “Michael Jordan involved with our program is what matters.” Jordan’s influence is emblematic of the high hopes surrounding the Tar Heels in the 2025 season under Belichick’s leadership, especially following a 6-7 finish in the previous year.
Joining Jordan are other North Carolina sports icons, including Mia Hamm, the legendary women’s soccer player whose collegiate excellence at UNC helped transform women’s soccer nationally. Football greats Julius Peppers and Lawrence Taylor are also expected to be in attendance, adding to the spectacle. Peppers, a two-sport athlete at UNC before focusing solely on football, is a recent inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after an illustrious 17-year NFL career.
Bill Belichick, 73, who boasts six Super Bowl titles as head coach of the New England Patriots and multiple Coach of the Year awards, aims to recalibrate the fortunes of the Tar Heels football program. His hiring in December 2024 was instantly impactful, signaling the university’s commitment to elevating the program on the national stage.
The 2025 North Carolina recruiting class is already ranked ninth nationally, a promising sign of reinvigoration and depth expected to complement Belichick’s strategic acumen and legendary coaching pedigree. The blend of elite talent on the field and the gathering of legendary alumni off it has created a palpable buzz, elevating this game to a must-watch event across the college football landscape.
Additional notable attendees include country musicians Eric Church and Chase Rice, reflecting the broader cultural magnetism of this historic evening in Chapel Hill. The heightened media coverage, including a standalone national broadcast on ESPN, further demonstrates the profound excitement surrounding Belichick’s first college football game.
As the Tar Heels prepare to face TCU, expectations are sky-high—not just for a competitive game, but for a program on the cusp of a new era led by one of football’s most revered coaches, supported by the presence and legacy of the university’s greatest sports figures.
Whether Belichick can meld his professional-winning ways with collegiate traditions remains to be seen, but the historic attendance of Michael Jordan, Mia Hamm, Julius Peppers, Lawrence Taylor, and other luminaries underscores the significance of this milestone moment for North Carolina athletics.