‘The Eventual Target Could Be Bill Belichick’ — Insider Reveals How North Carolina Could Try to Cut Ties With $50M HC Amid Investigation

The most important document in Chapel Hill right now could very well be Article 11 of Bill Belichick's contract.

North Carolina's widening inquiry into its football program has already coincided with general manager Michael Lombardi's resignation and questions surrounding defensive coordinator Steve Belichick.

Mike Florio believes the same inquiry could eventually reach the head coach, and any evidence that gives UNC valid cause to terminate him could carry tens of millions of dollars in financial consequences.

Mike Florio Flags Contract Pressure Point That Could Hurt Bill Belichick

"The eventual target could be coach Bill Belichick," Florio wrote in his NBC Sports analysis .

That possibility revolves around language buried inside Belichick's five-year, $50 million agreement.

Contract language in Article 11(c) gives UNC a path to terminate him for cause in certain situations involving conduct by Belichick or people he supervises, including conduct "known by Coach" and not properly reported when it ultimately leads to a material disciplinary finding, action, or sanction.

WRAL reported that lawyers conducting the investigation asked interviewees whether they had reported potentially questionable behavior to Belichick.

Investigators have also asked questions about whether Steve Belichick used drugs on the job or provided drugs to a player, along with separate allegations involving possible sexual relationships between staff members and players or other staffers.

WRAL has not reported that Belichick knew about any alleged misconduct, failed to report it, or violated university policy.

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Florio nevertheless sees the contract language as a possible pressure point if the investigation eventually produces evidence connecting Belichick to a reporting failure.

He also wrote that someone inside UNC "may be looking for a reason to fire Belichick for cause."

A For-Cause Firing Would Change the Money

UNC guaranteed the first three years of Belichick's $50 million contract. WRAL reported that if the university dismissed him without cause, it would owe the compensation scheduled through Dec. 31, 2027.

For cause is a different financial lane. Belichick's agreement says UNC would not owe salary, bonuses or supplemental income after a valid termination for cause, creating an obvious financial distinction if university leadership ever decided the relationship had run its course.

There is no reporting that UNC has made that decision. Hence, Florio's piece is merely an interpretation of where the investigation could lead, and not evidence that administrators have chosen Belichick as their next target.

Not to mention, the timing makes the split-screen around the program especially strange. North Carolina opened Belichick's second season with a 15-10 win over TCU, holding the Horned Frogs scoreless for the final 49 minutes.

PFN currently gives the Tar Heels an 89.1 Defense Impact score, good enough for No. 2 nationally.

One side of Chapel Hill is finally producing the result Belichick was hired to deliver. The other is reading contracts, interviewing witnesses, and asking questions that could become much more expensive than anything happening on Saturdays.