Clause in Bill Belichick's $10 million UNC contract reveals how much he'll owe if he leaves right away

Former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick made waves last month when he took the North Carolina Tar Heels job to replace Mack Brown. In his 50-year coaching career, Belichick has never coached in college and, at 72 years old, is one of the oldest coaches in the FBS.

Belichick has been assembling his staff in Chapel Hill while hitting the recruitment trail after his appointment, but on Wednesday, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero revealed that the legendary coach was being considered for the Las Vegas Raiders job.

According to the report, Raiders' part-owner Tom Brady, who fired Antonio Pierce on Tuesday, had conversations with Belichick to ascertain his interest in the job.

NBC Sports insider Nicole Auerbach revealed on X that should Belichick, who signed a five-year contract, leave his post as coach of the Tar Heels, he would owe UNC a mammoth $10 million if he walks away before June 1.

"Reminder: Belichick would owe UNC $10 million if he leaves before June 1. He would only owe UNC $1 million if he leaves after June 1. There's always been a possibility he never coaches in Chapel Hill. That buyout might be worth it for someone," Auerbach wrote.

According to Pelissero, several NFL teams, including the Chicago Bears, the New York Jets, and the Jacksonville Jaguars, hold an active interest in hiring the multi-titled coach.

Bill Belichick linked with ultimate NFL return

The reports of Bill Belichick returning to the NFL come after his former star player, Rob Gronkowski, revealed during a Tuesday interview with Fox News Digital that he believed that his former coach would ultimately return to the NFL.

"I think if Bill has success, he's gonna eventually hand that program off to his son, whose son is just developing to be a future head coach," Gronkowski said. "Love his son, and he's doing a great job in the defensive ranks of college."

"So I believe that Coach Belichick will have some good success at UNC, but I believe that his heart truly belongs in the NFL ranks, and he's eventually gonna go back to the NFL if it's in three years or four years. But I think he ends his career coaching as a head coach for an NFL team," he added.

Belichick accepting the North Carolina Tar Heels job took both fans and analysts by surprise, and barely a month after he signed his contract, the legendary coach was already linked with a move back to the familiar waters of the NFL.