Belichick Bans Patriots Scouts After First UNC Win
Bill Belichick just picked up his very first win as the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, but the victory itself wasn’t the biggest talking point. Instead, what really turned heads was the off-field drama that followed. After UNC’s 20–3 win over Charlotte, Belichick confirmed that he has banned New England Patriots scouts from attending his team’s practices.
Now, this decision might sound unusual, but Belichick didn’t mince words when explaining it. He simply said, “It’s clear that I’m not welcome around their facility, so they’re not welcome at ours. Pretty simple.” That direct comment made it clear that the tension between him and his former franchise hasn’t gone away.
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For context, Belichick spent 24 years as the Patriots’ head coach, leading them to six Super Bowl titles. But after the 2023 season, the relationship between Belichick and owner Robert Kraft ended, and not on the warmest of terms. At first, Kraft said it was an amicable parting, but later called it a firing. Since then, Belichick has taken subtle and not-so-subtle jabs at his old team. So when UNC staff reportedly told the Patriots last month that they wouldn’t be allowed at practices—just a day before a scout was supposed to visit—many saw it as another chapter in that ongoing feud.
It’s important to point out that Belichick’s policy isn’t against NCAA rules. College teams can choose how much access they give NFL scouts. But traditionally, scouts from all NFL teams, including the Patriots, are welcomed because it helps players gain visibility ahead of the draft. By shutting out the Patriots completely, and by limiting access for other teams to only the early, less useful portions of practice, Belichick is breaking from the norm.
Critics have called the move “petty,” arguing that it could hurt his own players by reducing opportunities for them to be scouted thoroughly. For draft-eligible athletes, every bit of exposure matters, and fewer chances to showcase skills in front of NFL eyes could make a real difference. Still, Belichick appears unfazed by those concerns.
What makes this story even more fascinating is that it’s happening so early in his college coaching career. Belichick started his UNC tenure with a rough blowout loss to TCU, and now, even after his first win, the spotlight is less about football strategy and more about personal grudges.
Whether this strict stance is a temporary message to his former employer or a long-term policy remains to be seen. What’s clear, though, is that Belichick hasn’t left his NFL baggage behind. His next chapter in college football is already proving to be just as dramatic as his decades-long run in New England.
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