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The Bill Belichick era at Chapel Hill is officially underway.

On Monday, Belichick and North Carolina secured their first transfer portal coup after former Holy Cross offensive lineman Christo Kelly committed to the Tar Heels, per On3.

Kelly becomes the first player to commit to UNC since Belichick stunningly took up the head coaching role last week. The former New England Patriots coach made an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show earlier Monday and hinted that some transfer activity was in the works for North Carolina. Hours later, that statement proved true after Kelly joined the ranks.

Kelly is a redshirt senior, having had been at Holy Cross since 2020. He made the All-Patriot League Third Team in 2023 as a standout interior offensive lineman, and figures to provide some meaningful experience and protection in the trenches for the Tar Heels in 2025.

As Belichick suggested earlier Monday, there figure to be plenty more incoming transfers to bolster North Carolina’s roster in his debut season as coach. UNC finished the 2024 season with a 6–6 record but went 3–5 in ACC play, finishing 13th in the conference.

Many suspect the Patriots coaching staff will look different next season.

For starters, Jerod Mayo and all of his assistants should be evaluated after yet another unsuccessful campaign in New England. Additionally, as is the case every offseason, there’s a possibility Patriots coaches leave Foxboro, Mass., for new opportunities.

One coach to watch might be Brian Belichick, whose legendary father, Bill Belichick, recently became the head football coach at North Carolina. But when Mayo met with the media Monday, the Patriots head coach claimed the possibility of Belichick leaving New England for Chapel Hill “hasn’t come up at all” in conversations with his safeties coach, per the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed.

Last Thursday, Brian Belichick was asked directly if he would leave the Patriots to reunite with the eight-time Super Bowl champion. A New England staffer since 2017, the younger Belichick stiff-armed the question and stressed his focus was on the Patriots’ Week 15 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.

There’s reason to believe Brian Belichick will be back with New England in 2025. Unlike his brother, Steve, Brian Belichick decided to keep his job with the Patriots after Bill Belichick was fired last January. That said, Brian Belichick might be inclined to seek a fresh start following a string of brutal seasons for the Patriots.

As for Brian’s brother, Steve is expected to leave Washington after one season as the Huskies’ defensive coordinator to join the Tar Heels staff.