Before he was a Carolina Panthers legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Julius Peppers spent three years making a name for himself as a University of North Carolina Tar Heel. So, yeah, you could assume he was pretty interested in the program’s recent head-coaching search.
And in case you didn’t want to just assume, Peppers posted the following to Twitter/X back on Dec. 9, when the hunt over at Chapel Hill was still on . . .
I’m getting a few requests about my thoughts on UNC Football. So I’ll just say it like this- ALL of the decision makers know who we want as our next leader. I think that’s all that matters. If we get him- great, if we don’t get him- that’s cool too. I’ve said my piece. #GoHeels
— Pep (@juliuspeppers_) December 9, 2024
Well, since that piece was said, North Carolina reeled in an awfully big fish—and you may have heard of him.
Bill Belichick was officially introduced as the new head coach of the school’s football program yesterday afternoon. The 72-year-old, known most for his 24-year tenure leading the New England Patriots, is a six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach and a three-time AP NFL Coach of the Year.
Peppers, the evening prior to the press conference, circled back to his thoughts and gave a strong stamp of approval:
We got HIM. https://t.co/nLVMtRTKgW
— Pep (@juliuspeppers_) December 13, 2024
Interestingly enough, one of those aforementioned Super Bowl wins pitted Belichick’s Pats against Peppers’ Panthers back in the 2003 season. And unfortunately for the latter party, we all know how that ended.
Regardless, G.O.A.T. recognizes G.O.A.T.
