Who is Bill Belichick's son? Meet Steve Belichick, UNC's 'coach-in-waiting'

Daniel Mader

Who is Bill Belichick's son? Meet Steve Belichick, UNC's 'coach-in-waiting' image

Bill Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl winner with the New England Patriots, took on a new adventure as the head coach of North Carolina in 2025 — and his son, Steve, is by his side.

With the legendary NFL figure joining UNC as its next head coach, he also added Steve Belichick to his staff as the Tar Heels' defensive coordinator, per CBS Sports.

This won't be the first time Steve Belichick has coached under his father, and it also won't be his first experience being in charge of a college defense. 

Here's what to know about Belichick, who will once again make up half of a father-son coaching duo with Bill — but this time in Chapel Hill.

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Steve Belichick joins Bill Belichick as UNC defensive coordinator

After rumors began to fly that Bill Belichick was interviewing for UNC's vacant head coaching position, it very quickly became a real possibility. After sitting out of coaching for a year in favor of making various media appearances as an NFL analyst, ESPN's Adam Schefter was among the reporters to confirm that the former Patriots coach would be joining the Tar Heels.

Even before the news was official, there were indications that Bill would likely bring his son, Steve, onto his coaching staff at UNC. ESPN's Pete Thamel and Chris Low reported during the Belichick-to-UNC rumors that there were "issues" that both UNC and Belichick were still working on in a deal, including "the potential role for his son."

MORE: Story behind Bill Belichick's childhood connection to UNC

That news became official, as CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz confirmed the defensive coordinator role for at UNC for Steve Belichick. 

Steve Belichick age

Steve Belichick, who's named after his grandfather and Bill's father, is 38. His birthday is March 25, 1987.

Over his athletic career, he played lacrosse for four years and football for one year at Rutgers.

MORE: Is Bill Belichick ready to elevate North Carolina?

Bill Belichick children

Bill Belichick has two sons: Steve and Brian, and both are joining him on the Tar Heels staff.

Belichick also has a daughter, Amanda, who's the head coach of women's lacrosse at Holy Cross.

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Steve Belichick coaching history

New England Patriots (2012-2023)

Steve Belichick was hired by the Patriots in May 2012 as a coaching assistant under his father, Bill. He wound up staying with the franchise for three of its Super Bowl titles during its dynastic run (2015, 2017, 2019).

In 2016, Belichick was promoted to New England's safeties coach, the position that his brother, Brian, now holds. Steve Belichick also took over defensive playcalling duties for the Patriots during the 2019 season. 

Belichick was named outside linebackers coach for the Patriots in 2020, but after his father parted ways with the franchise following the 2023 season, he also left for a new role.

MORE: Ranking the 18 greatest Patriots players of all time

Washington Huskies (2024)

Belichick spent the 2024 season as the defensive coordinator at Washington, his first collegiate coaching experience. The Huskies went 6-6 over the regular season, allowing 324.8 yards allowed per game. They're lined up to play Louisville in the Sun Bowl.

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Daniel Mader

Daniel Mader is a Content Producer for The Sporting News. He joined SN in 2024 as an editorial intern following graduation from Penn State University. He has previously written for Sports Illustrated, NBC Sports, the Centre Daily Times, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Daily Collegian and LancasterOnline. Daniel grew up in Lancaster, Penn., with a love for baseball that’ll never fade, but could also talk basketball or football for days.