Bill Belichick and UNC officially replace Freddie Kitchens with questionable hire

Bill Belichick and the UNC football program have found its next offensive coordinator.

First reported by Pete Nakos of On3, Bobby Petrino is set to become the UNC football program's offensive coordinator. The 64-year-old will replace Freddie Kitchens, who was let go following the conclusion of the 2025 season.

UNC football needs a spark offensively

The Tar Heels offense was pitiful during the 2025 season, finishing with one of the worst offenses in the entire FBS. They ranked 119th in scoring and 129th in total offense, both of which rank very close to the bottom among all FBS qualifiers.

Can Petrino be the fix?

While the Arkansas Razorbacks struggled with Petrino as their interim head coach, he is a guy who comes with a strong reputation for producing high-level offensive attacks. The Razorbacks were one of the SEC's best offenses this season, averaging 32.9 points and 454.8 yards per game, as the hope is that he can bring that success to Chapel Hill.

Why is this a questionable hire?

Petrino is a controversial hire due to a history of scandals and some questionable departures. There are also concerns that he is getting out-dated for today's modern football, and his track record of long-term stability are certainly something to keep in mind.

A guy who has a lot of football knowledge (especially with regard to running a successful offense), there are still plenty of question marks surrounding this hire, as the hope is that Petrino can avoid any off-the-field scandals during his stint at North Carolina.

This could be really good or really bad

If Petrino can focus on football and not draw any off-the-field attention, this could be a great hire for the UNC football program.

However, based on what we saw in year one of the Bill Belichick era, the circus might just add more entertainment with this hire, as it's one that seems like a "Boom or Bust" type of move for North Carolina.

Let's just hope that this one works out...