Arguably the greatest coach in NFL history is taking on a new challenge at 72 years old.

And it is not a new challenge in the league he grew so familiar with during his coaching career.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Pete Thamel and Chris Low, Bill Belichick is "finalizing a deal to become the new head coach at North Carolina" after the ACC program fired Mack Brown following a 6-6 season.

It is rather shocking to see an NFL legend taking over a football program that has been largely mediocre throughout its existence, especially since he is so close to being the winningest head coach in NFL history.

Counting playoff games, Belichick has 333 wins from his 29 years as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns (five years) and New England Patriots (24 years). The majority of those came as he helped orchestrate arguably the greatest dynasty in league history alongside Tom Brady in New England, and he was within striking distance of the record when he and the AFC East team went their separate ways following the 2023 campaign.

Don Shula holds the record with 347 wins, and it was easy to speculate that Belichick would return to the NFL after taking a year off to do media in 2024 with an eye on that record.

After all, he could achieve that total within two seasons even with a middle-of-the-road franchise.

He also could have chased another Super Bowl after becoming so synonymous with the sport's biggest stage during his peak on the Patriots. Here is a look at the nine times he went to the Super Bowl with New England:

• 2001 season: Defeated St. Louis Rams 20-17 in Super Bowl XXXVI
• 2003 season: Defeated Carolina Panthers 32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII
• 2004 season: Defeated Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX
• 2007 season: Lost to New York Giants 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII
• 2011 season: Lost to New York Giants 21-17 in Super Bowl XLVI
• 2014 season: Defeated Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in Super Bowl XLIX
• 2016 season: Defeated Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in Super Bowl LI
• 2017 season: Lost to Philadelphia Eagles 41-33 in Super Bowl LII
• 2018 season: Defeated Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in Super Bowl LIII

Instead, he will look to revitalize a North Carolina team that is overshadowed by the basketball program and has one double-digit win season since 1997.

The Tar Heels haven't won an ACC title since 1980 and have plenty of ground to make up if they are ever going to be considered a threat for the 12-time College Football Playoff in the near future.

Yet hiring perhaps the best coach in the sport's history is quite the starting point for a rebuild, and whether Belichick can recruit and navigate the modern-day college game with the transfer portal, NIL opportunities, rivalries and more will determine whether this experiment ends in a successful way.

One thing is for sure. There will be far more appointment-viewing games in the ACC next season.