Overview

• Belichick appeared live from Chapel Hill before UNC’s game against Clemson and credited Saban for influencing his defensive philosophy, calling him the best to do it.
• Saban countered on air that he learned more from Belichick and, with a laugh, said his longtime friend was "full of s—," drawing chuckles from the set.
• The segment on ESPN’s College GameDay was friendly and humorous, highlighting mutual admiration built during their shared stint with the Browns from 1991 to 1994.
• The exchange came a day after Saban told Pat McAfee that Mac Jones endured "bad situations in New England relative to coaching," a comment outlets framed as a critique of Belichick’s setup post–Josh McDaniels.
• NBC has reported the Belichick–Jones relationship deteriorated by 2023, citing sources who said the two rarely spoke, context that informed Friday’s remarks.