Star Power in Chapel Hill: Celebrities Pack Belichick’s UNC Debut

There will be a sellout crowd tonight as North Carolina takes on a stellar TCU program in front of a national audience on ESPN with Rece Davis and Kirk Herbstreit calling the game.

While the main focus will be on UNC head coach Bill Belichick, he won't be the biggest star on the field. UNC will have many celebrities in attendance, from former UNC athletes to country music stars. Oh yeah, that's not including Pat McAfee and Nick Saban, Belichick's longtime coaching confidante.

Here is the list of notable celebrities that will be attending the game and a brief biography of them.

List of Confirmed Attendees

Michael Jordan
Mia Hamm
Lawrence Taylor
Julius Peppers
Eric Church
Chase Rice
Blake Snell

Michael Jordan

Jan 29, 2022; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Former North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams with former UNC great Michael Jordan on the court as they were honored as part of the 1982 national championship team in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

MJ. The GOAT. Air Jordan. His Airness.

If you ask a person to name one athlete who attended the University of North Carolina, nine out of 10 times they will say Michael Jordan.

Jordan became a fan favorite after hitting the game-winning shot in North Carolina’s win over Georgetown in the 1982 national championship, giving Dean Smith his first ever national championship as a head coach.

From there, he built on a stellar freshman season, earning first-team All-ACC honors twice, becoming a two-time All-American and sweeping nearly every major national award, including ACC Player of the Year, the Naismith Award and the Wooden Award.

I would continue, but I think everyone reading this knows what happens next in Jordan’s story.

Mia Hamm

UNC — Sep 25, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Mia Hamm arrives on the pink carpet before a NWSL game between Racing Louisville FC and Angel City FC at Banc of California Stadium. | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Hamm led the Tar Heels to four national championships during her five seasons at North Carolina. The only year she didn’t win a title at UNC was 1991—when Hamm redshirted to prepare for the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup in China. Hamm would help lead the United States to become world champions after defeating Norway in the Finals.

She finished her college career as the ACC’s all-time leader in goals (103), assists (72) and points (278), and was later honored—alongside Michael Jordan—as one of the ACC’s Greatest Players of the Last 50 Years.

Hamm would finish with two World Cup championships and two Olympic Gold Medals. She would also be the first woman to be inducted into the World Football Hall of Fame.

Lawrence Taylor

UNC — Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor ended his three-week holdout and joined his teammates at the Giants training camp at Pace University in Pleasantville August 14, 1983. Taylor, a first-round draft choice out of North Carolina in 1981, has been an All-Pro performer his first two years in the league. | Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK

Originally a defensive lineman before moving to linebacker, Taylor was a unanimous All-American selection in 1980 after recording 16 sacks—a single-season school record that still stands. That same year, he was named ACC Player of the Year, becoming just one of four defensive players to ever win the award.

Taylor’s No. 98 jersey was retired for his accomplishments at North Carolina.

Dec 27, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels white helmet during pregame warm ups against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

After leaving Chapel Hill, Taylor went on to have a Hall of Fame career with the New York Giants, winning two Super Bowls. He was a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award in 1986 — still the only defensive player to ever earn the honor.

Julius Peppers

UNC — Nov 9, 2024; Munich, Germany; Julius Peppers during NFL Live Munich at Augustiner-Keller. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Peppers, the two-time All-American - going- unanimous and two-time All-ACC performer, started 33 of the 34 games he played in and finished his career second all-time in sacks. He also recorded 167 tackles, a school-record 53 tackles for loss, five interceptions, five forced fumbles and 13 pass breakups.

His peak season happened in his sophomore season in 2000 as he racked up 64 tackles, 24 tackles for loss (still a school record), three forced fumbles and scored two defensive touchdowns (pick six and fumble recovery).

In 2001, Peppers won the Bednarik Award, Bill Willis Trophy and the Lombardi Trophy after tallying 63 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and a forced fumble.

Eric Church and Chase Rice

UNC — Eric Church is seen on one of the screens next to the Mane Stage as he performs his headlining set at Stagecoach country music festival in Indio, Calif., Friday, April 26, 2024. | Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK

Nicknamed “The Chief,” Church earned multiple awards, including CMA Entertainer of the Year, for his electrifying live shows and rebellious spirit. With hits like “Springsteen” and “Record Year,” Church has built a reputation as a boundary-pushing storyteller in modern country music.

Even though he is an Appalachian State alumnus, Church is a lifelong UNC and even canceled a concert just so he could attend the famous Carolina-Duke Final Four game in 2022.

UNC — Chase Rice performs during the “Tight Ends & Friends” concert at Brooklyn Bowl Tuesday, June 18, 2024 in Nashville, Tenn. | Alan Poizner / For The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

Chase Rice is a country music singer-songwriter who is known for blending country with rock and pop influences, carving out his place as one of the genre’s most dynamic performers. Before turning to music, he played linebacker for UNC, but his career was cut short by injuries. Rice then wenr on to have hits like “Ready Set Roll” and co-wrote Florida Georgia Line’s smash single “Cruise.”

Blake Snell

UNC — Aug 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Blake Snell (7) reacts in the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Snell is considered to be one of the best pitchers in the MLB. He is a two-time Cy Young Award winner who is currently pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers

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