UNC head coach Bill Belichick confirmed reports that Patriots scouts are banned from Tar Heels practices Saturday after earning his first win in college football.
“It’s clear I’m not welcome there at their facility. So they’re not welcome at ours,” Belichick said. “It’s pretty simple.”
Belichick was at Gillette Stadium last June for Tom Brady’s retirement ceremony. He was not on hand for Brady’s statue unveiling this summer. Patriots owner Robert Kraft recently said he wants to build a statue for Belichick after the coach’s career is over.
A UNC athletics source told the Herald this week, “Why would we let (the Patriots) in our home after how he’s been treated since he left? We will help our players, but being treated fairly is a two-way street.”
The source noted Patriots scouts can still receive film on UNC players and call their staff for information on prospects.
Belichick and the Patriots initially announced a mutual parting of ways in January 2024. Kraft changed his wording to say he “fired” Belichick while appearing on “The Breakfast Club” in October 2024.
“The Dynasty,” a 10-part docuseries on Apple TV+, was viewed by some critics as a Belichick hit piece. “Kraft Dynasty LLC” appeared after the credits of each episode, though director Matthew Hamachek was quoted as saying Robert and Jonathan Kraft had no say in the final product.
Kraft later said he was disappointed in how the docuseries focused on controversies instead of the team’s success. The Patriots owner also recently said he plans to put a statue of Belichick next to the recently unveiled statue of Tom Brady.
This is Belichick’s first season at UNC after spending last year away from coaching. UNC started the 2025 season with a 48-14 home loss to TCU before beating Charlotte 20-3 on Saturday.
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