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Bill Belichick on Patriots scout ban: 'I'm not welcome at their facility, so they're not welcome at ours'

Danby: Daniel Hager09/07/25DanielHagerOn3
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© Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Earlier this week, news broke that first-year North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick banned New England Patriots scouts from attending Tar Heels practices, while also limiting the viewing access of other NFL personnel. The report was later confirmed by NBC Sports insider Mike Florio.

It’s a somewhat surprising move for the 73-year-old NFL lifer who won six Super Bowls in 24 seasons as the Patriots head coach. At the end of the 2023 season, Belichick and the Patriots parted ways, which was described as mutual. However, most believe he was forced out after tensions had flared between him and ownership about the end of Tom Brady’s time there, and the drop off in success the team had since Brady left.

Following Saturday night’s 20-3 win over Charlotte, Belichick was asked about the reported ban at the facility for New England Patriots scouts. His answer was short and sweet, while confirming rumors of tension between the two parties.

“It’s clear I’m not welcome there at their facility,” Belichick said. “So they’re not welcome at ours. Very simple.”

Via The Volume‘s John Middlekauff, the move was confirmed by multiple sources. According to Mike Florio, “the message sent by his consigliere, G.M. Mike Lombardi.” That amounts to a little bit of an awkward situation.

“Which is funny but also kind of embarrassing,” Middlekauff said. “Because Bill, for multiple decades, my guess is made over $200 million working for Robert Kraft. Became an absolute NFL legend, winning Super Bowls, going to Super Bowls, and just kicking the sh*t out of everybody with Tom Brady. Then, it got ugly and he lost and he got fired. You know what that’s called? Football… People get fired, but to ban the New England Patriots is like an FU to Robert Kraft.”

Belichick took a year away from coaching before landing at North Carolina. Since then, he’s run the program relatively secretively. He’s made life difficult for scouts, regardless of whether they’re from the Patriots or not. That included sharing blank two-deeps. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that it made it difficult for those scouts to know who to look at during their Week 1 game.

“One, North Carolina doesn’t have much talent right now. I understand being old, bitter, grouchy, and angry if life’s been sh*tty. If you’re lonely,” Middlekauff said. “If your financial situation’s bad, if you have no hope in life, just being miserable. That is understandable… But when you’re super rich and life’s going pretty well. Someone just paid you $10 million to coach the University of North Carolina when no one else would hire you… life’s not that sh*tty for Bill Belichick.”

Belichick earned his first career collegiate football win Saturday night and will look to roll that into two consecutive wins next Saturday against Richmond.

On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this article.