UNC's Dixon Explains How Belichick Prepared Him for NFL

The defensive back discusses his time under the legendary coach at North Carolina.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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North Carolina defensive back Thaddeus Dixon discussed his experience playing under legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick, who took over as the Tar Heels' head coach last season. Dixon explained how Belichick's NFL-style approach and mentorship helped prepare him for the next level, including introducing him to former star cornerbacks like Darrelle Revis and Aqib Talib. Despite a rough first season for Belichick at UNC, Dixon is confident the program is trending upward with the coach at the helm.

Why it matters

Belichick's arrival at the college level was a major story, as the six-time Super Bowl champion brought his proven NFL methods to the university game. Dixon's insights shed light on how Belichick's coaching style and connections can benefit players looking to make the jump to the pros.

The details

Dixon, who is projected to be a Day 3 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, said Belichick treated the UNC players "like men" and ran the program "like an NFL team." This included freedom to handle their business, afternoon practices, and film study on elite NFL cornerbacks like Revis and Gilmore. Dixon credited Belichick and his son Steve, who was Dixon's defensive coordinator at Washington, as key factors in his decision to transfer to UNC.

  • Belichick became the head coach at UNC last season.
  • UNC went 4-8 overall and 2-6 in the ACC in Belichick's first year.

The players

Bill Belichick

One of the greatest NFL coaches of all time, who took over as the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels last season.

Thaddeus Dixon

A defensive back for the North Carolina Tar Heels who is projected to be a Day 3 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Steve Belichick

Bill Belichick's son, who was the defensive coordinator at the University of Washington when Dixon played there.

Darrelle Revis

A former NFL cornerback who Dixon studied film on at UNC under Belichick.

Aqib Talib

A former NFL cornerback who Dixon studied film on at UNC under Belichick.

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What they’re saying

“Being around a dude like that, with so much football knowledge, who could coach all 22 positions on the field — it was really a blessing. Coach Bill Belichick does a lot. He cares a lot about the game and about his players. I learned so much — stuff that can never be taken away from me, stuff I can take into the league.”

— Thaddeus Dixon, North Carolina Tar Heels Defensive Back (Sports Illustrated)

“He runs his program like an NFL team. He treats us like men — not really as college athletes, but as grown men. He gives us the freedom to do what we need to do to take care of our business. Obviously, that freedom can be taken away at any time, but it's about being a professional each and every day — the way he goes about his days, with afternoon practices and meetings and stuff like that. It really sets us up to be in position for stuff like this.”

— Thaddeus Dixon, North Carolina Tar Heels Defensive Back (Sports Illustrated)

“Obviously, when you get an opportunity to play for Bill Belichick, it's kind of a no-brainer at some point, especially if you want to play on Sundays. You can learn so much and take so much from that, and it'll set you up in the right place.”

— Thaddeus Dixon, North Carolina Tar Heels Defensive Back (Sports Illustrated)

What’s next

Dixon is expected to be selected on Day 3 of the upcoming NFL Draft, where he could become a steal for a team looking to add a talented and aggressive cornerback with NFL-caliber coaching under his belt.

The takeaway

Belichick's arrival at the college level was a major story, and Dixon's experience playing under the legendary coach at UNC shows how his NFL-style approach and mentorship can benefit players looking to make the jump to the pros, even on a team that struggled in his first season.