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By Tyler Erzberger
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If you had to summarize Bill Belichick’s first year as head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels in one word, it would probably be messy.
From off-the-field news to the team going 4-8 in a soft ACC where the conference champion didn’t make the College Football Playoff, it was a tough year for the football coach who many consider the greatest in the sport's history.
And as 2026 looms large and fans in Chapel Hill expect a turnaround now that the legend has one year under his belt, Wednesday’s news only brings more cause for concern for the Bellchick era.
Read More on NCAA
Star linebacker Tyler Thompson is set to enter the transfer portal when it opens up in the first few days of January.
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Thompson, a four-star recruit out of the state of North Carolina, was phenomenal this past campaign and one of the few bright spots on a disappointing Tar Heels roster. He was fourth in the ACC in sacks with seven, and per Pro Football Focus, was the highest-graded player on the team.
The move puts Belichick in another uncomfortable decision as he enters his first full foray into the transfer portal cycle.
After losing one of its best players, he will have to utilize his 17th-ranked 2026 recruiting class and find players in the transfer window if he hopes to not have a losing record for the second-straight season in a row.
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