If you thought the first year of the Bill Belichick era in Chapel Hill was a wild ride, buckle up. The 2025 season was, honestly, a bit of a disaster. A 4-8 record, no bowl game, and an offense that ranked dead last in the ACC. It wasn’t exactly the "NFL pedigree" transformation fans were promised when Mack Brown was shown the door.
Now, as we head into the 2026 season, the unc tar heels football depth chart is looking like a whiteboard that’s been hit with a heavy-duty eraser.
Belichick is doing what he does best: being ruthless. He fired offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens after the unit averaged a pathetic 19.3 points per game. He also parted ways with special teams coordinator Mike Priefer. In their place? He’s brought in Bobby Petrino to run the offense. Yeah, that Bobby Petrino. It’s a move that has people talking, mostly because Petrino’s history is, let's say, colorful, but the guy knows how to coach quarterbacks.
The Quarterback Chaos: Who Actually Takes the Snap?
The most shocking update to the unc tar heels football depth chart came just a few days ago. Gio Lopez, the South Alabama transfer who started most of last year, is officially gone. He hit the transfer portal after the team landed Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards.
Lopez had some bright spots, but 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions over a full season just didn't cut it for a Belichick-led team. Edwards brings a different level of Big Ten physicality to the room. But don't think he's just being handed the keys. The staff is still heavily courting Texas A&M’s Miles O'Neill.
Basically, the QB room is a revolving door right now. We've also got four-star freshman Travis Burgess coming in, but asking a true freshman to start in the ACC with Petrino screaming in his ear? That’s a tall order.
The Skill Positions: Youth Movement or Portal Hunting?
With Omarion Hampton gone to the NFL and Davion Gause hitting the portal after a "disappointing" 2025, the backfield is thin.
- Demon June is the name to watch. He’s a sophomore now and showed some real flashes last year with over 600 scrimmage yards.
- Benjamin Hall, a redshirt junior, is the power back who will likely split carries.
- Jordan Shipp is basically the "old man" of the wide receiver room as a junior.
Losing Chris Culliver and Javarius Green to the portal hurts the depth, but Petrino loves using tight ends. Keep an eye on Jelani Thurman, the Ohio State transfer. He’s a physical freak who never quite found his footing in Columbus but could be a nightmare in the ACC.
Fixing a Broken Defense
Stephen Belichick is sticking around as defensive coordinator, which isn't surprising given the last name, but the personnel is shifting. The biggest win this winter was getting safety Greg Smith to withdraw from the transfer portal. He’s a 6-foot-4 monster in the secondary and arguably the most talented player on that side of the ball.
Losing Tyler Thompson—who was fourth in the ACC in sacks—to the portal is a massive gut punch. You don't just replace a guy like that with a "next man up" mentality. The Tar Heels are banking on Richmond transfer Peyton Seelmann to fill the void at linebacker left by Khmori House. Seelmann had 120 tackles last year. He’s a tackling machine, even if he's coming from the FCS level.
Current Projected Defensive Front
- Defensive End: Melkart Abou-Jaoude (Redshirt Senior)
- Defensive Tackle: Leroy Jackson (Redshirt Sophomore) / Isaiah Johnson (Redshirt Senior)
- Linebacker: Peyton Seelmann (Transfer) / Andrew Simpson
- Safety: Greg Smith / Will Hardy
It’s a "multiple 4-2–5" look, but with the Belichicks, it’s always about matchups. They'll probably change the look every three plays just to confuse themselves and the opponent.
Why the Offensive Line Matters More Than the QB
If the O-line doesn't improve, it doesn't matter if Tom Brady comes out of retirement to play for Bill again. Last year, the protection was, frankly, leaky. The team has added Gardner-Webb transfer Andrew Threatt and some massive recruits like J.B. Shabazz (6'5, 333 lbs).
The coaching change from Randy Clements to Will Friend is a "get back to basics" move. They need to protect Billy Edwards. If they can't establish a run game with June and Hall, Petrino’s "multiple pro-style" offense will stall out just like Kitchens' did.
What You Should Watch For Next
The unc tar heels football depth chart isn't even close to being finalized. Spring practice is going to be a bloodbath.
- Watch the Second Portal Window: Belichick isn't done. He's ranked 64th in portal recruiting right now, which is second-to-last in the ACC. He’s going to be hunting for veteran defensive ends and another experienced offensive tackle.
- Petrino’s Integration: See how quickly Billy Edwards picks up the terminology. Petrino’s playbook is notoriously dense.
- The Kicking Game: With Noah Burnette transferring to Notre Dame, Rece Verhoff has to be the guy. In close ACC games, a shaky kicker is a death sentence.
The 2026 season is a "prove it" year for the biggest name in coaching history. If the Tar Heels don't make a bowl game this year, the honeymoon in Chapel Hill won't just be over—it'll be a full-blown divorce.
Actionable Next Steps: Keep a close tab on the post-spring transfer window in April. Historically, Belichick-led teams at the pro level made their best roster moves late in the cycle, and with the current lack of depth at Edge and Tackle, expect a flurry of late-spring additions to fill the gaps in the two-deep. Reach out to local beat writers or check the official GoHeels roster page after the Spring Game to see which "Projected Starters" actually survived the first round of Petrino's practices.