CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The University of North Carolina is set to revamp its offensive coaching strategy for the upcoming 2026 season following the departure of offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens. Sources confirmed Friday that Kitchens has been relieved of his duties after just one season at the helm.
In 2025, the UNC offense struggled significantly, ranking among the bottom tier in the nation. Out of 136 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the Tar Heels finished 131st in total offense, 121st in scoring offense with an average of just 19.3 points per game, and 119th in red zone efficiency, achieving a scoring rate of only 77.1%. Unfortunately, only seven teams recorded fewer touchdowns than UNC’s 25.
The offensive woes were evident throughout the season, with the team achieving more than 30 points in just one game against Richmond, a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) opponent. Within the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), the Tar Heels managed a season-high of only 27 points in a Halloween matchup against Syracuse, an effort that also included a modest 426 yards of total offense. However, the Tar Heels were unable to break the 20-point barrier on seven occasions during the 12-game season.
This underwhelming performance contributed to the team’s disappointing finish with a 4-8 record, marking the first season since 2018 that UNC will not be participating in bowl games.
Throughout the season, North Carolina’s coaching staff experimented with various skill position players in hopes of identifying effective offensive strategies. However, apart from standout receiver Jordan Shipp, the team struggled to establish consistent playmakers. Quarterback Gio Lopez ranked 16th in the ACC for passing yards, while Demon June, the leading rusher, finished 25th in the conference. Shipp himself could only manage 14th place in receiving yards.
Freddie Kitchens joined the UNC coaching staff in 2022 as a tight ends coach under former head coach Mack Brown. After the 2022 season, he spent a year as an analyst at South Carolina before being promoted to offensive coordinator and tight ends coach for the 2025 season when Bill Belichick took over the program. Kitchens was the only position coach retained from the Brown era and was also given the interim head coach designation during the transition period, leading the team in their 27-14 loss to UConn in the Fenway Bowl at the end of the 2024 season.
Kitchens brings a wealth of experience to the table, having spent 16 years in various coaching roles within the NFL. He began his career in 2006 as the tight ends coach for the Dallas Cowboys before moving on to a lengthy tenure with the Arizona Cardinals. There, he held positions such as tight ends coach, quarterbacks coach, and running backs coach. He briefly served as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns in 2019 after starting as the associate head coach and running backs coach. Most recently, Kitchens worked with the New York Giants, assuming roles that included interim offensive coordinator.
Before his NFL career, Kitchens had a collegiate coaching background, where he served as the running backs and tight ends coach at Glenville State and held various coaching positions at LSU, North Texas, and Mississippi State.
As the search for a new offensive coordinator begins, the UNC football program and its fan base will be looking for a revitalized approach to offense in hopes of returning to competitive form in the upcoming season.
