Bill Belichick’s magic takes its course as UNC OL Aidan Banfield backs out from transfer portal following new head coach announcement

The North Carolina Tar Heels announced the hiring of Bill Belichick on Wednesday. Belichick signed a five-year, $50 million deal, but only three years of the deal is guaranteed. Following this news, offensive lineman Aidan Banfield backed out of the transfer portal, according to 247Sports.

Banfield started nine games for the Tar Heels as a true freshman and posted a 62.8 PFF grade. It's one of the highest grades for a true freshman interior offensive lineman this season.

Banfield, a three-star recruit in the class of 2024, isn't the only Tar Heel to back out of the transfer portal as fellow starting offensive lineman Austin Blaske also removed his name from the portal.

Blaske is a fifth-year senior and started 11 games for North Carolina in 2024.

Bill Belichick calls coaching at UNC a dream come true

Bill Belichick was introduced to the media on Thursday, where the legendary coach said it was a dream come true to coach at UNC.

"It just never really worked out," Belichick said, via ESPN. "Had some good years in the NFL, so that was OK, but this is a dream come true. I grew up in college football with my dad. As a kid, all I knew was college football."

Belichick also said coming back to Carolina was something he wanted to do. He says he grew up a UNC fan and claims his first words were "beat Duke," who are the Tar Heels' big rival.

"You can tell I liked it," Belichick said. "I've kept it a long time. It's great to come back home to Carolina and back into the environment that I really grew up in. When you're little, you don't remember everything.

"I was too young to remember a lot of things at Carolina, but as I grew up, you hear the same story over and over and over again. One story I always heard was, 'Billy's first words were, 'Beat Duke.'"

Belichick is a six-time Super Bowl winner (as head coach) and is one of the greatest NFL coaches of all time. He went 302-165 all-time as an NFL coach.