Bill Belichick expects improved UNC passing game under new OC Bobby Petrino

The first season of the Bill Belichick era was, in a word, underwhelming. North Carolina opened the 2025 season against TCU with an exciting seven-play, 83-yard touchdown drive, but then went on to be outscored 48-7 in what was an extremely embarrassing blowout loss. Following that game, UNC would go onto lose seven of their final 11 regular season games, settling at a 4-8 record. It marked the Tar Heels’ worst record since 2019 (2-9). A large factor into the disappointing season had to be the play from the quarterback position. Starter Gio Lopez led the team in passing with 1,747 yards (16th in ACC) and 10 touchdowns (T-16th in ACC), along with throwing five interceptions. Veteran quarterback Max Johnson appeared in four games as well, passing for 432 yards and two scores. Bill Belichick feels confident in duo of Billy Edwards Jr. and Miles O’Neill Heading into the 2026 season, however, Belichick feels much more confident in his passing game. This offseason, the program hauled in two transfer quarterbacks. Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards Jr. (No. 36 ranked transfer QB) and Texas A&M transfer Miles O’Neill (No. 72 transfer QB) will battle it out for the starting spot, although Edwards Jr. seemingly has the advantage. “I just think overall, we’re better in the passing game,” Belichick said at ACC Media Days. “Hopefully we can mirror that in with the running game, and have a good, well balanced offense. Bobby [Petrino]‘s done a good job with that, and we’ve got two experienced quarterbacks in Miles [O’Neill] and Billy [Edwards Jr.]. Billy more than Miles on the field, but they’ve both played quarterback in college football. I think they’ll both be very competitive.” Edwards Jr., who has appeared in 28 career games across two programs (Maryland and Wisconsin), brings experience to the roster. He’s passed for 3,435 career yards, along with 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Miles O’Neill, meanwhile, was a four-star recruit out of Hun School (MA), and looks to possibly be the quarterback of the future. They’ll both be coached by former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino, who latched onto the UNC program this offseason as their offensive coordinator. “It’s been great. I’ve known him for a long time,” Belichick said about Petrino at ACC Media Days. “A lot of things he does offensively are similar to what we did in New England.” Year two of the Belichick era at North Carolina kicks off on Aug. 29, when the Tar Heels clash with TCU in Dublin in the Aer Lingus Classic.