As North Carolina coach Bill Belichick continues to build out his staff in Chapel Hill, he's keeping his promise of having a "strong NFL presence." According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Belichick and the Tar Heels are working towards finalizing a deal with longtime NFL special teams coach Mike Priefer.

Bill Belichick is adding another seasoned NFL coach to his staff at North Carolina. Mike Priefer will be the new special teams coordinator for the Tar Heels, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Priefer, 58, coached special teams for more than two decades across the NFL.

Like many coaches, Belichick has tried to utilize the transfer portal to the fullest, but he took a major loss on Wednesday. That came in the form of the Tar Heels' leading passer in 2024, Jacolby Criswell, who's made the decision to hit the portal in search of a new program. ESPN's Pete Thamel reported the news.