Lawrence Taylor and the 1980 Tar Heels caught Bill Belichick's eye

Posted Aug 8, 2025
Lawrence Taylor changed the game of football. And his first NFL position coach is now head coach at UNC. Bill Belichick probably owes some of his success to Taylor. Taylor was an instant impact player as a rookie with the New York Giants in 1981. Belichick scouted Taylor intensely before the Giants drafted him with the second overall pick in the NFL Draft. (Inside Carolina)

Related: Football, Tar Heels in the NFL

Where does Drake Maye's sophomore season rank among greatest second-year QB seasons in NFL history?
Of all the stats on Drake Maye, this may be my favorite: He's the first quarterback to post the NFL's best record (14-3), completion percentage...
Wed Jan 21, 2026

Video: IC Podcast - Can UNC copy the Indiana Football blueprint?
Two days after Indiana won the National Championship in football, Inside Carolina's Greg Barnes and Tommy Ashley discuss the impact of the Hoosier run on...
Wed Jan 21, 2026

UNC Football transfer portal takeaways: Wins, losses, and remaining questions
The transfer portal window closed Jan. 16, and UNC Football believes it improved its roster. The Tar Heels signed 17 transfer players and re-signed several...
Mon Jan 19, 2026

THT Newsletter: UNC Basketball's Bay Area Blues, Dylan Mingo Update, Drake Maye to AFC Championship
Hubert Davis’ seat is heating up as UNC Basketball continued its disappointing defensive run by dropping both games of its California road trip, Dylan Mingo...
Mon Jan 19, 2026