University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heel Linebackers Follow Former Pro’s Lead
October 6, 2026 | Football
“I get excited every day coming to work because I’ve seen the growth,” says inside linebackers coach Jamie Collins.
Jamie Collins has had two rookie seasons.
The first came in 2013 with the New England Patriots at the start of a 10-year playing career that included a trip to the Pro Bowl and a Super Bowl victory.
The second came last year, reuniting with head coach Bill Belichick and overseeing the Tar Heel inside linebackers in his first ever coaching gig.
His first go-around in the coaching world went well, as Collins helped guide a pair of All-ACC selections a season ago.
But now that he's in year two, Collins is being reminded of his second year as a pro. The coaching game is slowing down for him. He's one year wiser and applying lessons learned from previous situations.
"The jump from year one to year two — I feel like in anything you do — it's a big leap" said Collins, a 2015 NFL second-team All-Pro. "Once you dedicate yourself and settle in with the jitterbugs, you know, the nervousness and stuff like that. But man, I just I learned so much."
That includes the importance of patience in teaching concepts and getting players to understand what they should be doing and why.
"Now I get it. It takes a little bit more time," Collins said. "I didn't get it at first sight when I was doing it back in college, so why would I expect them to get it?"
This season, Collins has a group of linebackers who get it, embracing a style of play similar to that of their coach.
Graduate transfer Derek McDonald is the vocal leader of the position group and has backed up his words with strong production. McDonald leads the team with 36 tackles and was the ACC's linebacker of the week for his performance against TCU.
"He's been a great addition to this defense and a great addition to the room," Collins said. "He's definitely the type of leader that we need."
Peyton Seelmann, another newcomer via the transfer portal, has the most solo tackles (17) on the team and is "probably the fastest" of UNC's inside linebackers, according to Collins.
"He's all over the place," Collins said. "I feel like that's how I was."
There isn't too much talk in UNC's linebackers room about Collins' time as a pro, which included 700-plus tackles, 26.5 sacks, 19 forced fumbles and 12 interceptions.
But there are some reminders Collins isn't that far removed from his playing days. He'll still "hit a few backflips every now and then" and run the first few reps with his players during conditioning.
"I've never been coached by a guy who played that recently," redshirt sophomore Jonathan Agumadu said. "Having a coach that just played the game and actually was in our shoes at the highest level of where I want to achieve it, it's amazing. Because what he sees and what he felt and the things that he did — also in this defensive scheme — help us every day."
Collins is equally energized by the players he works with. Competitive by nature, he applies "as much pressure as I can" on them — and they respond.
"I get excited every day coming to work because I've seen the growth," he said. "I see the work ethic, the competitive nature and spirit in them. It means a lot to see that from those young guys."
And it means a lot to Collins to still be with Belichick, who's mostly the same coach he remembers from New England.
"He's still him," Collins said. "He's still a great coach. He's still the smartest. He's still keeping us prepared every week. He's still one of them."
There is one noticeable difference, though.
"A little bit more smiles these days than the other face," said Collins, wearing a smile himself.
