Former Notre Dame QB Emerged as Top Candidate for North Carolina Job

It's tough to come up as the first runner-up, especially when the winner is Bill Belichick

Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees during Notre Dame Spring Practice on Saturday, March 26, 2022, at Irish Athletics Center in South Bend, Indiana. | John Mersits / USA TODAY NETWORK

The entire football world was shook Wednesday when news came down that legendary head coach Bill Belichick was taking the North Carolina opening.

The Tar Heels of course are replacing Mack Brown, who was forced out at the end of this regular season. Belichick hasn't coached in the college ranks previously but if you want to recruit kids to campus who have dreams of playing in the NFL, hiring a six-time Super Bowl champion head coach is certainly one way to do it.

The North Carolina Football Coaching Search Runner-Up

A former Notre Dame quarterback and playcaller was very much in the running for the North Carolina opening as it was reported that Tommy Rees was the runner-up for the position.

Had talks between Bill Belichick and North Carolina broken down, Browns passing game specialist and tight ends coach Tommy Rees was considered the favorite to land the Tarheels head coaching job, per league sources. Rees interviewed for the NC HC job twice, and had Nick Saban as…

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 11, 2024

Rees is currently working as the tight ends coach with the Cleveland Browns. North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham is a Notre Dame graduate who has obviously kept an eye on Rees for years.

Imagine interviewing twice for a job and thinking you're in great shape thanks to a ringing endorsement from Nick Saban, only to be passed over Bill Stinking Belichick.

In all seriousness, it would appear that it's only a matter of time before Rees is the head coach of a college football program.

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