North Carolina coach Bill Belichick is taking a beating in the media for banning New England Patriots scouts from Tar Heels practices. But the first-year college coach has good reason not to cut the team he coached for 24 seasons much slack.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft reportedly hurt Belichick’s chances of coaching in the NFL again when the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach interviewed for the Atlanta Falcons. The documentary “The Dynasty: New England Patriots,” produced by the Kraft family, was slanted to paint Belichick in a poor light.
There is plenty of bad blood between Kraft and Belichick after the sides parted ways in 2024. In July, Kraft said he took a “big risk” in hiring Belichick to coach the Patriots in 2000.
“As I told Robert multiple times through the years, I took a big risk by taking the New England Patriots head-coaching job,” Belichick said in response via a statement. “I already had an opportunity to be the head coach of the New York Jets, but the ownership situation was unstable.”
North Carolina source cites unfair treatment
Per Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald, a “UNC athletic source” claimed the Patriots have given Belichick unfair treatment since he left New England.
“Why would we let them 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 told the Boston Herald.
North Carolina, however, is still willing to work with the Patriots outside of their facilities, sending the NFL team game film of players, and is willing to answer phone calls for information about its athletes.
Bill Belichick must tread a fine line
Belichick has reason not to trust his former employer, but he must be mindful of taking care of his North Carolina player, many of whom harbor dreams of playing in the NFL. Keeping Patriots scouts from attending practices could make it less likely for those players to be drafted or signed by New England and possibly hurt the Tar Heels in recruiting.
Belichick, whose aim is to build a powerhouse at North Carolina, is savvy enough to know that. After all, he has coached nearly five decades in football. So expect this brouhaha to sort itself out.
For now, though, the sports entertainment value of this feud is off the charts.
