The Changing Face of College Football

Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels addresses the crowd during halftime in the game against the La Salle Explorers at the Dean E. Smith Center in Greensboro, N.C., on Dec. 14, 2024. Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Bill Belichick took the escalator down from the National Football League to the college game last month, cracking open a gaping hole in what might turn into a growing field for coaches and general managers.

The North Carolina Tar Heels added the New England Patriots’ six-time Super Bowl winner as their football coach in December, smashing the mold for acquiring talent for the sideline and the now-necessary front office. UNC Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham commented on the new reality of the cash-guzzling-yet-big-money-producing sport of college football at Belechick’s December introductory press conference.

“We are embarking on an entirely new football operation, and we can’t wait for coach Belichick leading the charge for us.”

The name image and likeness (NIL) deals in college sports mean players and institutions need an experienced crew of coaches and budgeting gurus in charge of programs that aim to be competitive. So while the NFL seemed to kick Belichick to the curb—a number of potential landing spots shunning him after he and the Patriots parted ways following the 2023 season—there are a number of coaching candidates in the NFL who might consider taking a Belichickian step that could help them remain in high-level football.

In addition, there are certainly a plethora of institutions that could use the boost of a coach with a strong NFL resume to elevate them to new heights. Such a move could be mutually beneficial, either for institutions with a goal of stepping up in the national landscape or those looking to gain respect in one of the smaller conferences. And while there are many coaches in the hunt for work at the moment, in this case, we will stick to those who ran teams in the NFL this season.

No. 1: Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles

Sirianni and supporters of the Eagles have a passionate love-hate relationship: it seems the fans just love to hate him.

Sirianni guided the Eagles to the Super Bowl in the 2022 campaign, going 14–3 in the regular season and he has compiled a record of 48–20 and a .706 winning percentage over four years in Philadelphia. However, his efforts to post win after win—which has contributed to knocking some of the shine off the Dallas Cowboys star with two division titles and four consecutive playoff runs in his four years—haven’t been enough to earn him favor from this demanding fan base.

Sirianni hasn’t been perfect in his stint with the Eagles—a seemingly unfriendly verbal exchange from the sidelines with home fans during a game drew heavy criticism from sports pundits nationwide—but no coach can claim sainthood.

The fact is, Sirianni deserves more respect and appreciation. He won’t get it in Philly, and the time is right to pull a Belichick and take a step in a direction that will be more beneficial to his mental well-being.

No. 2: Antonio Pierce, Las Vegas Raiders

The recently fired Pierce proved last season he could work near-miracles in Sin City. He led a broken and battered club to a 5–4 finish as the interim coach in the 2023–24 season, earning himself the job for this campaign.

However, the Raiders cut him loose this week following a 4–13 limp through the mean streets of a full season. The firing makes sense on the surface, but the Raiders have had question marks along the offensive line, which has protected mediocre quarterbacks throwing to unproven pass-catching targets.

In fact, the offense has been a train wreck, ranking 23 out of the 32 teams. The lone star was rookie Brock Bowers eclipsing Mike Ditka’s 63-year-old record for receiving yards by a first-year tight end with 1,194 (tied for eighth in the NFL), but he could only do so much during a disappointing stint in Vegas.

An up-close look at things, though, reveals that Pierce didn’t have much to work within his abbreviated tenure. A move to college football would allow him to build on his coaching methods and gain experience.

The stench from these Raiders might be difficult to wash off for a while, but success in the college ranks can make some misremember the bumpy road to the snake eyes roll Pierce landed in Las Vegas.

No. 3: Matt Eberflus, Chicago Bears

A 14–32 mark over three seasons is as ugly as they come, but there is enough makeup in the college ranks to cover up the unsightly areas for Eberflus, who had his moments in three turbulent seasons in the Windy City.

The club has become a rudderless ship, and the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft, Caleb Williams, continued looking lost even though Eberflus got the axe after Game 12 this season.

The defense was up and down, and the running game has also been in question. But Eberflus built his resume up with four seasons as defensive coordinator with the Indianapolis Colts, and success on that side of the ball is attractive to college teams, especially those looking to be competitive on the big stage.

There are certainly other coaches who might be able to function in this new area of NIL growth that could ease pressure on coaches in the pro ranks by giving them an out. But no matter what, the Belichick move is certain to change the face of college football.