Bill Belichick and school officials have signed his official employment contract, formalizing the hiring after speculation that the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach might opt instead for a return to the NFL.

The North Carolina Tar Heels football general manager told OutKick's Ricky Cobb that Bill Belichick will be staying with the program despite rampant rumors to the contrary.

A little more than a month after he was formally unveiled as North Carolina’s new football coach at a news conference, Bill Belichick has put pen to paper and formally signed his contract with the university. Belichick signed the deal Wednesday and the school released it Thursday.