Bill Belichick loses LB to transfer portal
Legendary coach Bill Belichick had a rough start to college footballbut now as the North Carolina Tar Heels prepare the second year of his term after a challenging campaign in 2025.
The team is facing a roster shakeup during a key offseason, now in the name of linebacker Mikay Gbayor, who is entered the NCAA transfer portal. The news was first reported by On3 insider Pete Nakos, with a social media post confirming the development.
“North Carolina LB Mikai Gbaior entered the NCAA transfer portal, Pete Nakos reports. The former Nebraska-Missouri transfer had 39 tackles and 1 sack this season.” On3 is hosted on X, formerly Twitter.
Gbajor’s decision adds another chapter to a tortuous collegiate journey. He began his career with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, where he spent two seasons in development before transferring to the Missouri Tigers in the spring of 2025. He eventually landed at North Carolina, where he became a regular contributor through the 2025-26 college football regular season.
During his lone season in Chapel Hill, Gbajor appeared in all 12 games and posted solid production, finishing with over 39 tackles, multiple tackles for loss and a sack. His numbers followed a productive 2024 season at Nebraska, where he set a career high with 49 tackles while playing a more defined defensive role.
During his college career, Gbaior accumulated more than 100 total tackles, double-digit tackles for loss and multiple tackles. His experience and versatility made him a valuable rotational piece for a Tar Heels defense that was going through a transition under a new coaching staff.
North Carolina’s linebacker group has seen frequent changes in recent years, but the program remains confident in its ability to recharge. Even with the staff leaving, the staff believes they can maintain production by developing younger players and strategically using the transfer portal.
The Tar Heels are coming off a 4-8 season that ended with a three-game losing streak, putting additional pressure on the program to stabilize by 2026. As Belichick continues to reshape the roster in his vision, departures like Gbajor’s will test North Carolina’s depth, but also open the door for the next wave of contributors to step forward.
2026-01-10 01:29:00
