Morning Sports Update

Jason McCourty made a bold prediction ahead of Bill Belichick’s first season at UNC

"He wants all the good players, and I think he's going to shake things up."

Bill Belichick UNC
Bill Belichick appearing at a UNC basketball game after being hired by the school in December. AP Photo/Ben McKeown

By Hayden Bird

3 minutes to read

Jason McCourty’s bold prediction regarding Bill Belichick: While predictions for the new year can often be a mixed bag, one former Patriots Super Bowl winner made a strong prognostication regarding his former head coach.

Jason McCourty, who played with the Patriots from the 2018-2020 seasons, thinks Bill Belichick, the University of North Carolina’s newly-appointed football coach, will turn the program into force to be reckoned with in his first season in charge.

“I want something special to happen in 2025,” McCourty began during a New Year’s Day segment on ESPN’s “First Take” on Wednesday.

“Bill Belichick will lead UNC to the College Football Playoff,” he said. “Yes, that is on his Christmas list that he is asking Santa that you saw him post on social media.”

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McCourty added that he thinks Belichick’s commitment to elevate UNC football is apparent in his attempts to pull every possible lever in securing recruits, including using social media (something the ex-Patriots coach famously avoided for decades).

“He wants all the good players, and I think he’s going to shake things up,” said McCourty, “bringing a general manager with him, getting guys to come over on the transfer portal, and show them how to win football games.

“Bill Belichick, playoffs, those two [things] just go together.”

UNC is coming off a 6-6 season in 2024, which saw former head coach Mack Brown leave his post after a defeat to Boston College in November. The Tar Heels closed out the season at Fenway Park, losing to UConn 27-14 in the Fenway Bowl in Saturday.

Trivia: Who are the only head coaches to win both a college football national championship and a Super Bowl?

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(Answer at the bottom).

Hint: The colleges they coached for were Oklahoma, Miami, and USC.

Scores and schedules:

Three of the region’s teams will be in action tonight.

First, the Bruins will play the Rangers in New York at 7 p.m.

Then at 7:30 p.m., the Boston Fleet will take on the Frost in Minnesota, while the Celtics will play the Timberwolves at the same time (also in Minnesota).

More from Boston.com:

Pro Bowl rosters: The Patriots have one selection, special teams ace Brenden Schooler.

Patriots soundbites: Thoughts from Jerod Mayo and Drake Maye heading into the final week of the season.

On this day: In 1994, the Patriots defeated the Dolphins 33-27 in overtime of the regular season finale. Drew Bledsoe closed out his rookie season with four touchdown passes and 329 yards through the air. His 36-yard touchdown toss to Michael Thompson won the game in overtime, with tight end Ben Coates also hauling in a pair of scores.

The team finished Bill Parcells’ first season in charge with a 5-11 record, but hope for the future. Of course, the dominant storyline emerging after the game was the uncertainty regarding the team’s future.

Fortunately for New England fans, local businessman Robert Kraft stepped in and completed his purchase of the team later in January, eventually dispelling any rumors about a possible relocation.

1993-94 Patriots

Daily highlight: Seton Hall forward Faith Masonius scored an improbable off-balance buzzer-beater to stun Villanova 56-55 on Wednesday night.

Trivia answer: Barry Switzer, Jimmy Johnson, Pete Carroll

Hayden Bird

Sports Staff

Hayden Bird is a sports staff writer for Boston.com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things sports in New England.

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