August 19, 2026
Billy Edwards Jr. named North Carolina's Week 0 starting QB under Belichick
The former Maryland and Wisconsin signal-caller beat out Texas A&M transfer Miles O'Neill and freshman Travis Burgess for the Tar Heels' starting job.
Bill Belichick named Billy Edwards Jr. North Carolina's starting quarterback on Tuesday, handing the dual-threat passer the reins of a Tar Heels program looking to rebound after winning just four games in Belichick's debut season. Edwards, who spent three seasons at Maryland before a stint at Wisconsin, beat out Texas A&M transfer Miles O'Neill and freshman Travis Burgess for the job.
Edwards will make his first start for North Carolina in Week 0 when the Tar Heels travel to Ireland to face TCU, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. The announcement came less than 24 hours after reports surfaced that Edwards' grip on the starting position may be slipping, making the official confirmation a notable turn in what had been a competitive camp battle.
A well-traveled career finds a new home
Edwards appeared in 26 games during his time at Maryland, serving as the full-time starter through the 2024 season. He ranked third in the Big Ten in passing yards per game that year at 261.9 and totaled 20 touchdowns — 15 through the air and five on the ground. His departure from College Park came after Maryland added Malik Washington to the program, prompting Edwards to transfer to Wisconsin.
His tenure in Madison was brief and injury-riddled. Edwards appeared in just two games for the Badgers, suffering an injury in the season opener that derailed his campaign. He returned to start against Maryland in the Big Ten opener but played limited snaps before sitting out the rest of the season. North Carolina represents his fourth college program in six years.
O'Neill, who transferred from Texas A&M, was considered a legitimate threat for the starting role in part because of his familiarity with new Tar Heels offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, according to Thamel. That connection ultimately was not enough to overtake Edwards, whom Belichick chose to lead the offense heading into the 2026 season.
Edwards now faces the challenge of staying healthy and rebuilding his momentum in Chapel Hill. North Carolina's program is under heightened scrutiny given the attention surrounding Belichick's transition from the NFL to college football, and the quarterback competition was among the most closely watched roster decisions of the offseason.
