Bill Belichick has revealed North Carolina’s starting quarterback for the team’s game on Monday against TCU.
Bill Belichick Reveals QB1 For North Carolina
Gio Lopez is QB1.
Belichick announced that Lopez will start for the Tar Heels to open the season.
“Gio’s made a ton of progress. We’ve evaluated things through training camp. As now we get ready for TCU, he’ll be our starting quarterback,” Belichick told reporters on Wednesday via North Carolina’s YouTube. “We’ll give him the majority of the reps in practice and get him as much preparation as possible.
Belichick added, “I feel comfortable with him and what he’s doing. He’ll get better as we go forward just because we will. I think he’s ready, but I think he’ll be like everybody — more ready as we go forward.”
Lopez beat out veteran Max Johnson and two freshmen — Bryce Baker and Au’Tori Newkirk.
Lopez is a redshirt sophomore who transferred to North Carolina from South Alabama. Lopez threw for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns to go along with 463 rushing yards and seven scores in 11 games last season.
Bill Belichick Begins Tenure At North Carolina
Game Week is finally here! 🏈
📍: Kenan Stadium
🗓️: September 1st
⌚️: 8:00 PM
📺: @espn pic.twitter.com/IpqL3tYVM7— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) August 25, 2025
After a legendary run with the New England Patriots that resulted in six Super Bowl wins, Belichick left the professional game and jumped to college as the next head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Belichick’s first offseason as the Tar Heels’ coach was rather tumultuous.
Known for his ability to control media attention, Belichick’s relationship with his 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordan Hudson, dominated the news throughout the offseason.
Hudson’s domineering behavior reportedly led to HBO pulling out of its Hard Knocks deal with the Tar Heels.
Hudson then interrupted an interview Belichick did with 60 Minutes when a question was asked about their relationship. NFL writer Peter King eviscerated Belichick for his behavior.
“This is a guy who owned every room he ever walked into and now he’s got a 24-year-old muse telling him what to do or trying to control situations that quite frankly she has nothing to do with or should have nothing to do with,” King said on Sports Media with Richard Deitsch. “Bill’s got to get a hold of himself here. He’s got to get a hold of this situation. This is embarrassing. It’s totally embarrassing for a guy who’s as great at his job as he is.”
After a noisy offseason, Belichick can finally focus on football as the Tar Heels open the season against TCU on Monday night in a nationally televised game at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Bill Belichick, second in all-time NFL wins and a six-time Super Bowl champion, talks with "CBS Mornings” Tony Dokoupil about his father's advice, Tom Brady, and his new book, “The Art of Winning.” https://t.co/SsQxUwmape pic.twitter.com/kSAt2pLKcq
— CBS Sunday Morning 🌞 (@CBSSunday) April 27, 2025
