Mack Brown landed in the “retirement watch” section of ESPN’s updated hot seat tracker for the 2024 season.

The story, published Wednesday by the World Wide Leader, named several coaches who are either on the hot seat going into next season or could end up calling it a career after the 2024 campaign. Brown, 72, was named in the latter category. He’s joined by Utah’s Kyle Whittingham and Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz.

Here’s some analysis from ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg on Brown’s future:

Brown will turn 73 right before the season, which will be his sixth in his second stint at UNC and 16th overall at the school. If the Tar Heels had built on a 6-0 start last season and competed for or won the ACC, perhaps Brown would have exited his post already. A strong 2024 season would allow him to hand over the program in good shape, possibly to a clear-cut successor. Brown still has great energy, but it’s hard to see him in the role much longer.

North Carolina has stumbled to the finish line in back-to-back seasons. The Tar Heels started 6-0 last year, but ended the 2024 season with just 8 wins. Brown responded by hiring Geoff Collins to replace Gene Chizik as the program’s defensive coordinator.

Carolina will also have a change at the quarterback position next season as Drake Maye turns pro. Former Texas A&M quarterback Max Johnson is the favorite to win the job over Conner Harrell, who made his 1st career start in UNC’s bowl game loss to end the 2023 season.

Next season will be Brown’s 36th as a FBS head coach. He has 282 victories in his career, which ranks 7th all-time and 1st amongst active head coaches.