Why Would Bill Belichick Deny UNC Access to the New England Patriots?

• It was revealed on Friday that the North Carolina football program, led by Bill Belichick, has denied access to the New England Patriots, Belichick’s former NFL team.
• It was also stated that two other teams have been denied access to the Tar Heels, who were routed in their first game of the season.
• Belichick and the Patriots didn’t have a good ending to their relationship, which is likely why this story came out.

The New England Patriots have been barred from any access to the North Carolina football program. The Tar Heels’ program is run by Bill Belichick, who won six Super Bowls with the Patriots.

Two other teams have also said they were denied access to the Tar Heels, but Belichick’s acrimonious breakup with the Patriots takes the headlines.

Tar Heels Giving “Zero Access” to NFL Teams, Including Patriots

The story was broken on Thursday evening that the Patriots were banned from North Carolina.

It hasn’t been the best week for Belichick and the Tar Heels, who were clobbered 48-14 at home by TCU in their season opener. Belichick, who has a lot of NIL money to work with, caught some shots on the internet.

The news about the Patriots could be a way to deflect from his team’s problems, although it’s probably not the best method for Belichick. It should also be stated that two scouts from other NFL teams have said they have had “limited access”. NFL teams can only speak to Frantzy Jourdain, the Tar Heels’ pro liaison. But one scout also said they “can’t think of another school with a statement of ‘zero access’”, which can be found on a UNC football program website page that only NFL teams can see.

However, the story is about Belichick and the Patriots, and how their relationship ended.

Does Belichick’s Relationship with the Patriots Have to Do with Their Ban?

Belichick was the head coach in New England for 24 years, winning six Super Bowls, but he left the team in 2024. But there are varying theories on why he left the Patriots. Publicly, it was considered both sides just wanting to move on. But in the background, there have been reports of Belichick battling with owner Robert Kraft about who deserved more credit for the Patriots’ dynasty, and that’s before you even throw quarterback Tom Brady into the mix.

Belichick’s relationship with the Patriots gets the headlines, but the more interesting story is that Belichick seems to be limiting access to all NFL teams. The scout alluded to not knowing of another school that allows zero access to teams, and that’s something that isn’t going to make NFL teams happy. Teams can’t even watch the entire practice at UNC, which you can do at most other programs, says the scout.

But Belichick is given a lot of power at UNC, who are far down the CFP Championship odds for this season. It’s not a surprise that he is locking things down, although there is a chance that Belichick could loosen these restrictions if the team starts winning more. But Belichick, for better or for worse, does things his way, so we’ll see how this works out for the Tar Heels!