The 2025 North Carolina Tar Heels football team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tar Heels were led by first-year head coach Bill Belichick. The team plays their home games at Kenan Stadium.
Following the firing of head coach Mack Brown after six seasons in charge, assistant Freddie Kitchens was elevated to interim head coach.
On December 11, 2024, Bill Belichick, former head coach of the NFL's New England Patriots, was hired as the 35th head coach in North Carolina program history.
The North Carolina Tar Heels drew an average home attendance of 50,500.
Offseason Coaching changes After the conclusion of the 2024 season, the following changes were made to the Tar Heel football staff for the 2025 season.
Mack Brown Head coach Dismissed Bill Belichick Chip Lindsey Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Hired by Michigan Freddie KitchensMatt Lombardi Randy Clements Offensive line coach Hired by TCU Will Friend Lonnie Galloway Assistant head coach/Pass Game coordinator/Wide receivers coach Hired by Clemson Garrick McGee Larry Porter Special Teams coordinator/Running backs coach Hired by West Virginia Mike PrieferNatrone Means Geoff Collins Defensive coordinator Dismissed Stephen Belichick Charlton Warren Assistant head coach/Defensive backs coach Hired by NC State Brian Belichick Tommy Thigpen Co-defensive coordinator/Inside Linebackers coach Dismissed Jamie Collins Ted Monachino Defensive line coach Hired by Maryland Bob Diaco Jason Jones Cornerbacks coach Hired by Alabama Armond Hawkins Clyde Christensen Offensive Analyst Hired by Appalachian State N/A
Matt Lombardi will receive title of Quarterbacks coach, Kitchens' title will be solely Offensive Coordinator.
McGee's title will be solely Wide receivers coach.
Collins's title will be solely Inside Linebackers coach.
Departures NFL draft
The following Tar Heels were selected in the 2025 NFL draft. 122Omarion HamptonRBLos Angeles Chargers
Transfers Source: Name No. Pos. Height Weight Hometown Year New school Eli Sutton 73 OT 6'7.5" 285 Brentwood, TN Junior Austin Peay Jordan Louie 34 RB 6'0" 205 Lawrenceville, GA Freshman Coffeyville CC Conner Harrell 15 QB 6'1" 191 Alabaster, AL Sophomore Charlotte Andrew Rosinski 65 OT 6'6" 265 Ball Ground, GA Freshman Georgia Tech Zach Greenberg 63 IOL 6'4" 290 Livingston, NJ Graduate James Madison Travis Shaw 4 DL 6'5.5" 355 Greensboro, NC Junior Texas Howard Sampson 79 OT 6'8" 330 Humble, TX Sophomore Texas Tech Noah Burnette 98 K 5'10" 175 Raleigh, NC Graduate Notre Dame Jakiah Leftwich 75 OT 6'6" 302 Atlanta, GA Junior UCF Garrett Jordan 43 LS 6'0" 225 Waxhaw, NC Junior «» Malik McGowan 64 IOL 6'3" 330 Charlotte, NC Senior UNLV Tyrane Stewart 9 CB 6'0" 180 Osyka, MS Junior North Texas Michael Merdinger 17 QB 6'1.5" 195 Deerfield Beach, FL Freshman Liberty Ashton Woods 25 LB 6'3" 205 Marietta, GA Freshman West Virginia Caleb LaVallee 34 LB 6'1" 205 Mableton, GA Freshman Florida State DeAndre Boykins 16 CB 5'11" 210 Concord, NC Senior Oklahoma State Jacolby Criswell 12 QB 6'0" 220 Morrilton, AR Graduate East Tennessee State Zion Ferguson 8 CB 6'0" 165 Gainesville, GA Freshman Pittsburgh Beau Atkinson 12 EDGE 6'6" 240 Raleigh, NC Junior Ohio State Cade Law 55 LB 6'1" 225 Kingston Springs, TN Sophomore Memphis Malaki Hamrick 24 LB 6'4" 205 Shelby, NC Sophomore «» Crews Law 44 LB 6'1" 217 Nashville, TN Freshman Memphis Zach Rice 55 OT 6'5" 290 Lynchburg, VA Sophomore Syracuse Lucas Osada 97 K 6'1" 190 Woodberry Forest, VA Freshman Illinois Gavin Blackwell 2 WR 6'0" 185 Monroe, NC Junior Florida State Jaffer Murphy - K 6'1" 183 Marion, IA Senior UTSA Christian Hamilton 7 WR 5'11" 167 Harrisburg, NC Freshman West Virginia Joel Starlings 94 DL 6'5" 310 Richmond, VA Freshman Maryland Julien Randolph 80 TE 6'5" 210 Ashburn, VA Freshman Austin Peay Adam Samaha - K 6'0" 170 Ann Arbor, MI Junior Akron Desmond Jackson 74 IOL 6'4" 285 Clemmons, NC Freshman Coastal Carolina Blaine McClure 36 DB 6'1" 185 Greenwich, CT Freshman Vanderbilt Cyrus Rogers 84 WR 5'11" 185 Raleigh, NC Junior «» Liam Boyd 37 K 6'1" 200 Asheville, NC Sophomore Charlotte CJ Murphy 47 LB 6'2" 240 Bryn Mawr, PA Sophomore «» Grady Sherrill 85 WR 5'9" 180 Greensboro, NC Sophomore «» Hudson Wilharm 19 QB 6'5" 195 Wilmington, NC Freshman NC State Terry Nwabuisi-Ezeala - DL 6'2" 305 Rabun Gap, GA Freshman Vanderbilt Hayes Galloway 77 IOL 6'4" 305 Concord, NC Freshman Clemson Miles Gaddy 27 S 6'1" 175 Fuquay-Varina, NC Sophomore East Carolina Amare Campbell 17 LB 5'11" 225 Manassas, VA Junior Penn State Michael Short 30 LB 6'3" 218 Charlotte, NC Sophomore Wake Forest Michael Hall 27 WR 6'0.5" 180 Eden, NC Sophomore «» Grant Mills 61 LS 5'11" 210 Mooresville, NC Freshman Ohio State Evan Haynes - WR 6'3" 185 Roswell, GA Freshman Georgia Tech Jariel Cobb - RB 5'10" 185 Reidsville, NC Freshman Charlotte Curtis Simpson 33 EDGE 6'3.5" 200 Kings Mountain, NC Freshman Charlotte Ryan Ward 16 TE 6'4" 230 Rutherford, NJ Freshman West Virginia Rodney Lora 92 DL 6'3" 295 Woodberry Forest, VA Freshman UCF Jason Smith 67 OL 6'3" 310 Wilmington, NC Freshman Richmond
«» Indicates player has not yet enrolled at a new school.
Additions Incoming transfers Source:
Name No. Pos. Height Weight Hometown Year Previous school Christo Kelly 53 IOL 6'4" 305 Wilmette, IL Senior Holy Cross Melkart Abou Jaoude 9 DL 6'5" 260 Newton, NJ Junior Delaware Connor Cox 81 TE 6'5 225 Jacksonville, FL Sophomore South Carolina C.J. Mims 92 DL 6'3" 288 Vanceboro, NC Sophomore East Carolina Miles McVay 54 IOL 6'6" 373 East Saint Louis, IL Freshman Alabama Chad Lindberg 69 IOL 6'6" 325 League City, TX Senior Rice Aziah Johnson‡ 81 WR 6'2" 175 Richmond, VA Freshman Michigan State Khmori House 7 LB 6'2" 210 Bellflower, CA Freshman Washington William Boone‡ 71 OT 6'6" 340 Conyers, GA Junior Prairie View A&M Gavin Gibson 5 CB 5'11" 175 Mooresville, NC Junior East Carolina Pryce Yates‡ 10 EDGE 6'3" 240 San Antonio, TX Junior UConn Coleman Bryson 16 S 6'2" 190 Rabun Gap, GA Junior Minnesota Jason Robinson 5 WR 5'10" 145 San Juan Capistrano, CA Freshman Washington Peyton Waters 17 S 6'2" 170 Los Angeles, CA Freshman Washington Thaddeus Dixon 1 CB 6'0" 205 Paramount, CA Senior Washington Daniel King 52 OT 6'5" 270 Cairo, GA Senior Troy Smith Vilbert 8 EDGE 6'6" 282 Montvale, NJ Senior Penn State Mikai Gbayor 4 LB 6'2" 230 Irvington, NJ Senior Missouri Adrian Wilson 17 WR 6'1" 170 Pflugerville, TX Freshman Colorado Jacob Horvath 93 P 6'1" 190 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Sophomore Eastern Illinois Rece Verhoff 90 K 5'11" 189 Columbus Grove, OH Junior Marshall Gio Lopez 7 QB 5'11.5" 233 Madison, AL Sophomore South Alabama Benjamin Hall 28 RB 5'11" 224 Kennesaw, GA Sophomore Michigan Dayton Sneed 6 WR 6'0" 196 Hermitage, TN Freshman Tennessee Jordan Hall 66 OT 6'8" 336 Columbus, OH Freshman UAB Joseph Mupoyi 25 EDGE 6'5" 261 Oakdale, CT Freshman Penn State D'antre Robinson 6 DL 6'3.5" 315 Orlando, FL Freshman Florida Isaiah Johnson 94 DL 6'2" 275 Chandler, AZ Sophomore Arizona Gannon Burt 48 LS 6'1" 205 Fort Mill, SC Freshman Florida Will O'Steen 73 OT 6'3" 230 Anniston, AL Junior Jacksonville State Jakai Moore 55 IOL 6'6" 318 Nokesville, VA Senior South Carolina Khristian Dunbar-Hawkins 23 S 5'10.5" 185 Tustin, CA Freshman UCLA Greg Smith 12 DB 6'4" 215 Riverview, FL Freshman Florida Andrew Simpson 2 LB 6'0" 238 Wilder Ave, CA Senior Boise State Shamar Easter 84 TE 6'5" 215 Ashdown, AR Sophomore Arkansas Jordan Owens 80 TE 6'6" 255 McGehee, AR Senior Oklahoma State Nathan Leacock 82 WR 6'3" 217 Rolesville, NC Sophomore Purdue
‡ Departed team mid-season.
Recruiting class Source:
Personnel Coaching staff North Carolina Tar Heels coaches Bill Belichick Head coach 1st Michael Lombardi General manager 1st Freddie Kitchens Offensive coordinator 3rd Will Friend Offensive line coach 1st Matt Lombardi Quarterbacks coach 1st Garrick McGee Wide receivers coach 1st Natrone Means Running backs coach 5th Caleb Pickrell Offensive assistant 4th Stephen Belichick Defensive coordinator/linebackers coach 1st Bob Diaco Defensive line coach 1st Brian Belichick Safeties coach 1st Armond Hawkins Cornerbacks coach 1st Jamie Collins Inside linebackers coach 1st Ty Nichols Outside linebackers coach 1st Mike Priefer Special teams coordinator 1st Billy Miller Special teams assistant 1st Brian Hess Head strength and conditioning coach 7th Brian Simmons Senior advisor to head coach 2ndReference:
Roster 2025 North Carolina Tar Heels Football RosterQuarterback 2 Bryce Baker – freshman (6'3, 205) 7 Gio Lopez – sophomore (6'0, 203) 10 Au'Tori Newkirk – freshman (6'3, 200) 14 Max Johnson – graduate (6'5, 225) 15 DJ Mazzone – sophomore (6'0, 175) 18 Andres Miyares Jr. – freshman (6'1, 210)
Running back 12 Demon June – freshman (5'11, 215) 20 Jaylon Nichols – freshman (6'0, 185) 23 Charleston French – sophomore (5'9, 205) 26 JoJo Troupe – freshman (5'8, 200) 27 Jaylen McGill – freshman (5'10, 200) 28 Benjamin Hall – sophomore (5'11, 235) 37 Davion Gause – sophomore (5'11, 215)
Wide receiver 0 Alex Taylor – freshman (6'2, 190) 1 Jordan Shipp – sophomore (6'2, 190) 3 Chris Culliver – junior (6'2, 195) 5 Jason Robinson Jr. – freshman (5'10, 150) 6 Dayton Sneed – sophomore (6'0, 196) 8 Kobe Paysour – senior (6'1, 190) 9 Javarius Green – freshman (5'10, 195) 17 Adrian Wilson – freshman (6'1, 170) 82 Nathan Leacock – sophomore (6'3, 217) 83 Kenedy Uzoma – freshman (6'5, 210) 85 Shanard Clower – freshman (5'9, 165) 86 Madrid Tucker – freshman (5'10, 170)
Placekicker 90 Rece Verhoff – senior (5'11, 190) 97 Guytano Bartolomeo – freshman (5'10, 170)
Punter 93 Jacob Horvath – junior (6'1, 190) 96 Tom Maginness – senior (6'0, 210) Tight end 19 Jake Johnson – junior (6'6, 240) 80 Jordan Owens – senior (6'6, 255) 81 Connor Cox – sophomore (6'6, 250) 84 Shamar Easter – sophomore (6'5, 215) 87 Cort Halsey – sophomore (6'3, 230) 88 Deems May – junior (6'2, 230) 89 Paul Barton – graduate (6'4, 210)
Fullback 33 Henry Martello – freshman (6'4, 250)
Offensive line 51 Peter Pesansky – freshman (6'2, 290) 52 Daniel King – senior (6'5, 340) 53 Christo Kelly – senior (6'4, 305) 54 Miles McVay – sophomore (6'6, 350) 55 Jakai Moore – senior (6'6, 318) 56 Jani Norwood – freshman (6'4, 290) 57 Bo Burkes – junior (6'2, 305) 58 Austin Blaske – graduate (6'5, 310) 66 Jordan Hall – sophomore (6'8, 336) 68 Aidan Banfield – sophomore (6'3, 300) 69 Chad Lindberg – senior (6'6, 315) 70 Byron Nelson – freshman (6'3, 300) 72 Eidan Buchanan – freshman (6'9, 330) 73 Will O'Steen – senior (6'3, 290) 77 Trey Blue – freshman (6'6, 330)
Defensive line 6 D'Antre Robinson – sophomore (6'4, 315) 8 Smith Vilbert – senior (6'6, 282) 9 Melkart Abou Jaoude – junior (6'5, 260) 25 Joseph Mupoyi – freshman (6'5, 261) 84 Laderion Williams – freshman (6'4, 310) 86 Kamarion Thomas – freshman (6'3, 280) 87 Trey Giddens – freshman (6'3, 275) 89 Emmanuel Nwaiwu – freshman (6'4, 250) 90 Xavier Lewis – freshman (6'0, 250) 91 Leroy Jackson – freshman (6'1, 290) 92 CJ Mims – junior (6'5, 280) 93 Devin Ancrum – freshman (6'2, 295) 94 Isaiah Johnson – junior (6'2, 320) 96 Nicco Maggio – freshman (6'1, 290) Linebacker 2 Andrew Simpson – senior (6'0, 238) 4 Mikai Gbayor – graduate (6'2, 230) 7 Khmori House – sophomore (6'0, 215) 28 Chinedu Onyeagoro – freshman (6'2, 220) 30 Evan Bennett – freshman (6'2, 230) 33 Tyler Houser – freshman (6'2, 220) 40 Tyler Thompson – sophomore (6'4, 240) 41 Jonathan Agumadu – freshman (6'2, 220) 43 Lantz Pascal – freshman (6'1, 225) 44 Jake Bauer – freshman (6'1, 225) 47 Austin Alexander – freshman (6'3, 240) 54 Timir Hickman-Collins – freshman (6'2, 215) 95 Daniel Anderson – freshman (6'1, 245)
Defensive back 0 Ty White – sophomore (5'10, 185) 1 Thaddeus Dixon – senior (6'1, 195) 3 Malcolm Ziglar – sophomore (6'3, 195) 5 Gavin Gibson – senior (6'0, 185)