Even coaching at UNC under his dad, Steve Belichick wants to chart his own path

Steve Belichick walked up to the podium in the Kenan Football Center on Wednesday, nearly 20 minutes after Bill Belichick stood in the same spot.

The younger Belichick’s gruff cadence and tendency to play it cool about how North Carolina looks five days into fall practice mirrored his father’s appearance at the microphone from earlier in the afternoon. They both wore shorts and sweatshirts, too — Bill’s UNC-branded, Steve’s all-black.

Then, differences emerged. Like Steve’s humor.

“I take all the credit for him being in college [coaching],” he joked about his dad. “That’s all me.”

The former University of Washington defensive coordinator may have followed his father to UNC, but he isn’t interested in comparisons. In his first media conference since joining the Tar Heels, Steve showed off his dry humor and shared what he envisions for the Carolina defense, including lessons he’s learned from his dad.

Still, he wanted to make one thing clear:

“I’m my own person,” Steve said. “I’m gonna do my own thing. Being with [Bill] was important, but that wasn’t the only piece of the decision. I got a family to feed, people to provide for. I don’t count on him to do that. Let me do that myself.”

Who is Steve Belichick?

In 2024 under the younger Belichick, Washington boasted the No. 28 defense in FBS, allowing 328.4 yards per game — a vast improvement from No. 99 in 2023. The defense’s rating rose in nearly every category.

Rumors first circulated in December that he would join his father as UNC’s defensive coordinator, but he remained with the Huskies for the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl against Louisville to end the season, where the Cardinals won, 35-34.

Steve and his younger brother, Brian, who also joined UNC’s staff as a safeties/defensive backs coach, grew up watching their dad coach in the NFL. After they turned 11, they became ball boys for the New England Patriots before assisting coordinators and later learning how to break down film.

Steve worked as a defensive assistant for the Patriots beginning in 2012, eventually working his way up to coaching safeties, defensive backs and linebackers. In 2020, New England named him defensive coordinator, where he called plays until 2023.

“My mom always told me that I could do something better with my life,” Steve said. “But I fell in love with the game.”

The eldest Belichick son said he has always tried to be a sponge around his father, absorbing as many lessons as possible about life and football. He views his dad as his mentor and idol. That’s why he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work alongside Bill — and his brother — again.

“He’s done a great job of preparing the defenses and also having a good feel for play-calling and when to call things,” Bill said. “It’s not just what the defense is, it’s the timing of when to call it, how to set things up and things like that. He does a real good job of taking input, as Brian does, from the players.”

3 Belichicks as coaches

Players, like defensive back Marcus Allen and defensive lineman Leroy Jackson, said the trio of Belichicks all have very distinctive personalities. Steve, according to Jackson, has more jokes. He can be laidback. It’s a characteristic that has allowed the unit to get to know the new coach and become comfortable with his style.

The players also praised Steve’s experience and his defensive knowledge. With the increased freedom Steve allows on the defensive side of the ball, Allen believes the unit will make smarter calls, show off more plays and improve overall.

“It’s all about the players,” Steve said. “Those are the guys who go out there and make the plays. I don’t make any plays. So [I’m] structuring the defense around those guys and their ability to do different things. You have to install a system. You have to have a foundation. And then, there’s the evaluation process of seeing what guys can do and giving them the chance to do that, and not making them over think out there. Let them go out there, play fast and see what they can do. Then, from that point, you structure your team around the guys that you got out there.”

“We’re early in the building process right now, and we’ll see what the product will look like.”

This story was originally published August 6, 2025 at 4:40 PM.