North Carolina's Belichick limits access of New England Patriots scouts

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North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick's feud with the New England Patriots -- the team he coached to six Super Bowl titles and nine conference championships in 24 seasons -- now extends to Chapel Hill.

North Carolina is limiting access for Patriots scouts, though they can still have calls with the program's personnel staff and have access to film, a UNC source told WRAL. The source said that North Carolina "will absolutely help our players," but that it won't allow access "inside our house."

3 & Out's John Middlekauff first reported the news. ESPN reported that the ban for Patriots' scouts has been in place since August. ESPN further reported the school is offering limited access to all NFL personnel, including only the first three periods of practice which includes stretching. The Athletic reported the same, including that teams have been told to only contact UNC's assistant director of player personnel and professional liaison Frantzy Jourdain.

UNC said the decision is in reaction to how Belichick has been treated by the organization since his departure.

"Fair treatment is a two-way street," the UNC source said.

The Patriots and Belichick parted ways after the 2023 season. New England finished 4-13, its third losing season in four years under Belichick after the departure of star quarterback Tom Brady.

Patriots' owner Robert Kraft later called it a firing. Belichick's role in the dynasty appeared to be minimized in a documentary, while Belichick left any mention of Kraft out of his book.

ESPN previously reported that Kraft warned Atlanta Falcons' owner Arthur Blank that Belichick was difficult, stubborn and arrogant when Atlanta was looking to hire a coach and had interviewed Belichick after the 2023 season. A Patriots spokesman said at the time that Kraft advocated for Belichick to get the Falcons' job.

Belichick took the UNC job before the NFL coaching cycle truly heated up after the 2024 season.

Kraft recently said that Belichick would receive a statue next to one of Brady outside the Patriots' stadium.

"When Bill's coaching career ends, we look forward to sitting down with him and having a statue made to be right next to Tommy," Kraft told WBZ's Dan Roche.

North Carolina hired Belichick in December, a stunning move for a coach who had never spent time in the college game. Belichick signed a five-year, $50-million contract. He dismissed talk of returning to the NFL, saying at his initial press conference that he didn't come to UNC to leave. The buyout in his contract dropped from $10 million to $1 million on June 30. Belichick's staff includes his two sons and the son of longtime friend Michael Lombardi, who serves as the program's general manager.

North Carolina was routed by TCU 48-14 in Belichick's debut on Monday night at home. The Tar Heels have had success on the recruiting trail for the Class of 2026. UNC won the commitment of a four-star offensive lineman on Thursday, flipping him from Tennessee.