What is Mack Brown’s buyout at North Carolina?

How much would it cost the UNC football program to buy out Mack Brown’s contract?

After a 3-0 start to the season, spirits were high in Chapel Hill for the football program. But since then, UNC has lost four-straight games including giving up 70 points to James Madison, blowing a 20-point lead to Duke and most recently, allowing Georgia Tech roll off a 60-plus yard run in the final seconds.

And with those four straight losses, the future of the program is in question.

Head coach Mack Brown took the loss to James Madison to heart, reportedly telling his players he would step down if he didn’t feel like he could coach them and get this program to where it needed to be. Brown later said he was speaking out of emotion. Fast forward a few weeks later and after more losses, there are some thoughts that Brown and UNC could part ways after this season with the head coach potentially stepping down.

But if UNC were to move on from Brown and pay out his contract, his buyout would only cost them $2,812,500 per USA TODAY Sports’ release of their annual coaches compensation report. 

Brown is making $5M with his school pay and then bonuses. The buyout isn’t a huge number and is actually one of the lowest among all college football coaches as of December 1, 2024.

This adds a small detail into whatever decision comes at the end of this season. But for now, Brown and the Tar Heels are going to continue to try and turn this thing around and win some games.

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