To this point, Belichick has remained committed to North Carolina, even as his coaching staff has yet to take shape. With rumors swirling that his lack of a coaching staff could signal his intent to spurn the Tar Heels and go back to the NFL, Lombardi stepped in to shoot down those concerns.

A report emerged on Wednesday stating that multiple NFL teams with vacancies at head coach approached eight-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick about reconsidering his move to college football, where he was announced in December as the next head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels.