New England Patriots

Julian Edelman congratulates Bill Belichick on new UNC coaching gig

"At his core, Coach Belichick is a teacher, a ball knower, and someone who doesn’t accept less than 100%."

Bill Belichick congratulates Julian Edelman after defeating the Falcons in overtime at Super Bowl 51 on Feb. 5, 2017.
Julian Edelman is excited to see his former coach make an impact on college football. AP Photo / Matt Slocum, File

Bill Belichick was named head coach of UNC’s football program on Wednesday, and has since received an outpouring of support from former peers and players. Ex-Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman had a congratulatory message to share with the coach.

Edelman posted to Instagram, calling Belichick a teacher “at his core” and “someone who doesn’t accept less than 100%.”

“I’m excited to watch him take the UNC program to that same level, and to watch his players reap the benefits of his genius in their college careers and beyond,” he wrote. “Congrats Coach.”

The Super Bowl LIII MVP wasn’t the only one to share some love for Belichick — Tom Brady posted an Instagram story saying “The Tar Heel way is about to become a thing.” Rookie quarterback Drake Maye called his alma mater a “great spot” and said it would be cool for a “Hall of Fame coach to go back and coach in college.”

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During the Fox NFL pregame show on Sunday, Edelman, Brady, and Rob Gronkowski joked about what it would be like for him to coach a college team.

“Can you imagine Bill on a couch recruiting an 18-year-old?” Edelman asked.

Famed for their basketball program, UNC hasn’t won an ACC title since 1980. Before accepting the position, Belichick said he wants to make the program a “pipeline to the NFL” with professional training, nutrition, and coaching.

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