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Bill Belichick's son, Steve, will not be in Dublin with the North Carolina team as their season begins against TCU this weekend.
The Tar Heels defensive coordinator has been on indefinite medical leave since early August and was not seen among the group that traveled to Ireland and touched down on Thursday.
While North Carolina has remained tight-lipped on the situation, On3 reports he will not be with the team.
Bill Belichick is expected to call plays having worked with defensive line coach Bob Diaco on defensive game preparation in his son's absence.
'I['ve] called [plays] as head coach,' he said earlier this week. 'I've called plays on offense, defense, and the kicking game.
'Again, we have a really good staff. I have a lot of confidence in them. But if I need to do anything, I feel confident in doing it.'
Bill Belichick and North Carolina have landed in Dublin, Ireland, without Steve Belichick
Steve Belichick previously worked on his dad's staff with the New England Patriots
Steve Belichick was due to meet with the media after UNC's first preseason practice on July 29, but it was later claimed he was 'feeling under the weather'.
His dad announced a week later, on August 6, that he was on medical leave with no timetable to return.
'No updates,' Bill Belichick said on Monday. 'I'm not really going to talk about that situation. We'll work it out.'
Steve Belichick's absence from the team comes after it was claimed his wife, Jen, savaged Bill Belichick's partner, Jordon Hudson in a foul-mouthed, 40-minute rant - in front of the NFL legend.
The New York Post claimed Jen Belichick branded Hudson, 25, as 'bats*** crazy' back in November and accused her of 'f***ing twisting' the brain of her 74-year-old boyfriend.
The legendary coach was reportedly urged to 'wake up' and then issued with an ultimatum: 'You choose your family or [her].'
It followed claims that Belichick's family started 'digging into' Hudson amid fears she could tear down 'everything he's built.'
And tensions reportedly spilled over in Belichick's office on November 8 - after the Tar Heels beat Stanford.
Jen Belichick, wife of Steve, reportedly lashed out at Jordon Hudson in a 40-minute rant
Belichick and Hudson's relationship was made public in 2024
Hudson has been a regular presence around the UNC football team in Chapel Hill
Jen and Steve Belichick have been married for nearly a decade and share several children.
He previously served on his dad's staff at the New England Patriots, then spent the 2024 season as defensive coordinator at Washington before heading to Chapel Hill.
The Tar Heels went 4-8 in Belichick's first season as head coach, but start their season at noon ET in Dublin against TCU this Saturday.
