Bill Belichick’s first year at the University of North Carolina is on the shortlist of fascinating subplots to watch for this upcoming college football season.
The spectacle of seeing arguably the greatest coach in the history of the sport drop down a level to try to add another notch to his already flawless resume is fascinating.
Belichick’s success, or lack thereof, likely won’t determine how many other coaches make a similar jump down the road. In the interim, it could create a blueprint for pro castoffs to earn another chance at glory in the collegiate ranks.
After being essentially excommunicated from the NFL, could John Gruden follow a similar path?
During a recent appearance on the “3rd&Out” podcast, analyst Josh Pate shared some intel about the potential for Gruden to land in college football.
“The vibe is far more likely he’s not going to be a head coach somewhere in 2026,” Pate said. “If he’s not, it’ll be because the options on the table aren’t good enough. The question is, is he willing to go to work for those programs?”
Gruden has an eccentric personality, similar to Jim Harbaugh’s, that translates perfectly with young men.
Even at 61, given his social media content, he will have the energy to expend into the NIL and recruiting space.
It’s easy to envision Gruden taking over a mid-SEC or Big Ten power and, with proper funding, transforming that school into a CFP contender in just a few seasons.
Gruden has the leverage, so it’ll be worth keeping an eye on high-profile jobs that could become available.
