Since being fired by the New England Patriots, speculation surrounding Bill Belichick’s career decisions has been rampant. However, when discussing media coverage of the eight-time Super Bowl champion now serving as the head coach of North Carolina, Belichick has a clear message: take one outlet with a grain of salt.
During a recent episode of The Pat McAfee Show, Belichick remarked, “We’re all set. We’re full speed ahead. Pro Football Talk’s not a good source for me.” This comment came as a response to McAfee’s question about Belichick’s hiring process for assistant coaches, which had appeared unusually slow since his appointment in December.
“Pro Football Talk isn’t a good source for me 😂
We’ll be on the field in just over a month and we’re already in the middle of our offseason program” @Belichick_B #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/oluoNH7Zuz
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 29, 2025
Belichick’s critique of Mike Florio’s website comes after concerns arose regarding his delayed hiring of staff, with some speculating a potential return to the NFL due to the lack of concrete actions on his part, including signing his contract until earlier this week. Notably, Florio contributed to this speculation but was not alone in doing so.
UNC general manager Mike Lombardi responded to the rumors on X, insisting there was no slowdown, just a careful approach: “We are not slow, just being diligent, hired three people on Sunday, not one is nervous other than this erroneous report. A completely fabricated story. Thank you.”
We are not slow, just being diligent, hired three people on Sunday, not one is nervous other than this erroneous report. A completely fabricated story. thank you. https://t.co/eQysGzgGyv
— Michael Lombardi (@mlombardiuncgm) January 14, 2025
While Florio has faced criticism for his tendency to speculate, the situation in Chapel Hill has indeed raised eyebrows, particularly regarding the timeline of Belichick’s staff appointments. Despite the jabs at Pro Football Talk, both Belichick and McAfee seemed to find humor in the exchange, with McAfee chuckling audibly.
Florio appears to be handling the situation smoothly, as depicted in his posts following Belichick’s remarks.
https://t.co/ZwIoX9uibL pic.twitter.com/a6JSP748IE
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) January 29, 2025
