Bill Belichick notched his first win as a college coach Saturday night, as North Carolina beat Charlotte on the road 20-3.
After getting pummeled 48-14 by TCU in the season opener, Belichick and the Tar Heels faced heavy criticism all week. But the scrutiny wasn’t limited to the team’s performance. The 73-year-old coach drew even more attention for his latest jab at the New England Patriots.
According to John Middlekauff, Belichick has banned Patriots scouts from attending UNC practices. After the win over the 49ers, reporters pressed Belichick on the decision and whether it was true.
"It's clear I'm not welcome there at their facility. So they're not welcome at ours," Belichick said, according to The Athletic’s David Ubben.
The remark adds more fuel to Belichick’s feud with his former team and owner Robert Kraft. The two have traded subtle shots at one another through the media since the Patriots parted ways with Belichick at the end of the 2023 season.
Before the year, when asked about the biggest differences between coaching in the NFL and college, Belichick couldn’t resist taking another swipe at Kraft.
“It’s a lot of football, and there’s not much in your way. There’s no owner, there’s no owner’s son,” Belichick said.
The issue, as some see it, is that Belichick’s feud isn’t just about him anymore.
"This is the latest petty move by Bill Belichick — and in the big picture it only hurts his players and future recruits," Ari Meirov wrote.
Meirov’s point rings true. While Belichick has his Super Bowl rings, career stats, and a Hall of Fame nod likely waiting for him, his players don’t share that luxury. Blocking out NFL scouts risks harming their future opportunities at the next level. And while Belichick may never get the statue or recognition he feels denied by Kraft and the Patriots, he’s the one with nothing to lose — not his players.