Steve Sarkisian shares just how stunned he was Bill Belichick took the UNC job

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian couldn't mask his surprise when talking about Bill Belichick taking the head coaching job at North Carolina.
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian against the Clemson Tigers during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian against the Clemson Tigers during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Earlier this week, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian sat down with Kay Adams to discuss all things Longhorns and college football. When Adams brought up North Carolina's newly-appointed head coach Bill Belichick, Sarkisian couldn't hide his surprise at the Tar Heels' newest leader.

"Well, at first, there was some rumblings, and I was like, 'He's just kicking the tire to get some NFL team to come get him,'" Sarkisian said. "And then he took the job. And then he brought Mike Lombardi with him... And then I was like, 'They're really assembling this thing to go for it.'"

Sarkisian has some personal experience with Lombardi, having coached with him for the Raiders when the now-Las Vegas-based team was still in Oakland.

The Horns' head coach continued on the topic, saying that Belichick accepting the job made a big comment about where college football is currently.

"I think it talks a little bit about college football and just where we're at," Sarkisian said. "The fact that Chip Kelly goes to be an assistant coach with Ryan Day; now he's in the NFL, Bill Belichick is now coaching football, Matt Patricia is now a defensive coordinator at Ohio State. Just the idea and the thought behind where college football is at today is pretty exciting."

Sarkisian gave a huge top of his cap to Belichick, calling him "one of the greatest, if not the greatest" coaches of all time as he discussed just how special it was that the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach had joined the college level.

Belichick, of course, took over the UNC job after former Texas head coach Mack Brown and the Tar Heels agreed to part ways during last season.

Also read: 3 reasons why Steve Sarkisian and Texas should not hire Mack Brown in any role

While Sarkisian and Belichick most likely won't cross paths during the upcoming football season, there is always the possibility that the Horns and the Heels will collide during the postseason.

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