Bill Belichick’s name was back in NFL speculation after the New York Giants fired coach Brian Daboll.

But the UNC coach made it clear he has no plans to return to the place he spent nearly five decades with when he posted a lengthy statement to his Instagram account.

“I have great respect and genuinely care for the New York Giants organization and both the Mara and Tisch families. The New York Giants played an important role in my life and in my coaching journey. It was a privilege for me to work for the Mara family and be a member of Coach [Bill] Parcells’ staff for over a decade.

“However, despite circulating rumors, I have not and will not pursue any NFL head-coaching vacancies. Since arriving in Chapel Hill, my commitment to the UNC Football program has not wavered. We have tremendous support from the university, our alumni and the entire Carolina community. My focus remains solely on continuing to improve this team, develop our players and build a program that makes Tar Heel fans proud.

“We’re on to Wake Forest.”

The Tar Heels suffered a 28-12 loss to Wake Forest to drop them to 4-6 on the season.

Belichick was the Giants defensive coordinator from 1985-1990 under Bill Parcells. New York won two Super Bowls during that time.

The 73-year-old coached the New England Patriots for 24 seasons and helped lead the team to six Super Bowl championships before the two parted ways after the 2024 season. He was shut out of the coaching cycle and only interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons, who hired Raheem Morris.

UNC has been a mixed bag in Belichick’s first year at the helm and his first at the collegiate level. The Tar Heels have now won two games in a row, including their first ACC win of the season against Syracuse.

Belichick signed a five-year contract worth $50 million in December 2024. While it’s unclear if Belichick will ever return to the NFL sidelines, his focus remains on the team he has in front of him.