It was announced on Wednesday that Bill Belichick, the six-time Super Bowl champion and the third-winningest head coach in NFL history (302 victories), will be the new coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, starting in 2025.

I did not see that coming.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t imagine Belichick coaching college football, not after everything he has accomplished at the professional level. This isn’t to say that college is a step down from the NFL. It might be in terms of the level of talent at a pro coach’s disposal–only the best of the best–but college is clearly a different skill set than the professional ranks.

Not better or worse, just different.

It wouldn’t be an unprecedented move, but it sure does seem like that for an NFL head coach as revered and respected as Belichick. This would be like Vince Lombardi leaving the Packers in 1969 and coaching the Washington Huskies instead of the Redskins. It would be like Bill Walsh leaving the 49ers and going on to coach the Stanford Cardinal. Oh, right, Walsh did exactly that from 1992-1994, but didn’t the late, great Walsh seem more suitable to make such a transition than someone with the temperament of Belichick?

Don’t get me wrong, I think Belichick will be able to pull off the “Fear of God” element that is so important for college coaches. He’ll no doubt have his players walking on eggshells and worried about making the slightest mistake or acting the fool in public.

But won’t Belichick have to first put on a happy face and go on the recruiting trail and into countless living rooms across this great land of ours to convince moms and dads that their son will be in the very best care? Won’t he have to try and relate to them on a certain level that seemed beneath him when he was coaching adult men?

Sure, Belichick is 72, but can you picture him pulling off warm and cuddly? Certainly not with a 24-year-old girlfriend by his side. Can you imagine Belichick being this tough but lovable grandfatherly type of college coach that his players would do anything for? Again, not with a girlfriend who would be young enough for them to ask out on a date.

And what about the transfer portal? What about NIL money? Do you think Belichick will have the patience to deal with players leaving if they get benched or don’t get enough playing time?

What about all of the schmoozing college coaches must do with alumni?

Again, I just don’t see it. Sure, the Tar Heels are reportedly going to pay Belichick around $10 million a season, but he’s already worth $70 million according to the Internet. How much more money does he need at his advanced age?

I guess he still has that burning desire to coach and to be challenged.

Belichick apparently wasn’t getting much real interest at the NFL level, which may indicate that teams now think he’s out-of-touch with modern football.

And that makes it even weirder that a college program would believe he’s the right fit and vice versa.

Having said all of that, I want to see what happens.