Nearly two days after reports of a toxic culture and dysfunction within UNC Football, head coach Bill Belichick said he remains committed to the program.

In a statement released on X by UNC Athletics, Belichick said he is "fully committed to UNC football" and the program he and the athletics department is building.

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The statement was also supported by Bubba Cunningham, UNC's athletic director, who said Belichick has full support from UNC.

In the last 24 hours, sources at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are revealing new information about what's happening behind the scenes of Bill Belichick's football program.

It comes after WRAL's Pat Welter first broke the story of a divided locker room, backdoor benefits and a potential rule violation.

Among the new findings on Wednesday:

  • A report from TarHeel247 that decision-makers at UNC are looking into a possible exit strategy for Belichick. WRAL Sports is working to confirm the report.
    • Sources told WRAL Sports that in a meeting on Tuesday, UNC cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins would not be at practice due to "personal business." The Athletic's Bruce Feldman is reporting that Hawkins has been suspended for benefits allegations that came to light from a WRAL report. WRAL News called Hawkins on Wednesday, but he did not want to comment.
      • Sources told WRAL there was a fight Tuesday between two players in the locker room.
        • A UNC parent told WRAL their son doesn't want to go to the facility anymore because it is so toxic.
          • UNC sources say defensive back Thaddeus Dixon is expected to miss significant time after getting injured against Clemson. The injury could end Dixon's season.

            Fallout related to Bill Belichick and UNC football's divided locker room

            On Wednesday, WRAL News spoke with several UNC students on campus about UNC's 2-3 start to the 2025 season.

            "Campus is dead," junior Arth Vijay said. "Everyone is kind of walking around. No one talks."

            Freshman Molly Brown echoed Vijay's sentiments.

            "I would say it's a great day to be a Tar Heel unless we're standing in Kenan Stadium," Brown said.

            UNC sophomore Anderson Stark said he believes Belichick should "absolutely" be immediately fired.

            Fellow sophomore Sam Pepper shared what it's like on campus.

            "There's nothing right now," Pepper said. "Yeah, we're only five games in, but the amount of hype that was around it and what's happening, like I said, it's just sad."

            Andrew Fine, a Durham attorney with previous experience in Name, Image and Likeness consulting and athlete representation, said that if UNC decided to change its mind and fire Belichick, they likely wouldn't have enough based on what is known publicly to fire Belichick with cause.

            Fine said if UNC tried to cite a lack of institutional control within the program, which does not require a determination from the NCAA, it would almost certainly be challenged in court.

            "Given the history of how that term has been used and the things that have been used to constitute a lack of institutional control, I think it would be a difficult case to make those two violations, if you want to call them, that constitute a lack of institutional control on the part of coach Belichick," Fine said.

            WRAL News reached out to a representative for Belichick, who declined to comment and pointed to the statement UNC released late Wednesday night.