“He Mad Because He Got Fired”: NFL HOFer Calls Out Bill Belichick’s Patriots Vendetta Costing UNC Players

Bill Belichick secured his first win as head coach of the Tar Heels by defeating Charlotte 20-3. Good start for the “33rd” NFL team, right? But the on-field success was just half the story yesterday. The real fireworks were popping off behind the scenes. Turns out, Bill put up a velvet rope at the Tar Heels facility, refusing entry to the Patriots scouts. The backstory?

After nearly 25 years and six Super Bowl rings in New England, Bill’s relationship with the Patriots soured hard when he parted ways in January 2024. So, when word leaked that the old Patriots staff wanted to scout his college practices, Belichick was blunt in his response. “It’s clear that I’m not welcome around their facility, so [they’re] not welcome at ours. Pretty simple,” Belichick said. If you zoom out for a second, none of this is totally surprising. The Patriots moved on, ushering in a new era. And as much as fans hoped old wounds might heal, it’s pretty clear some fences just don’t get fixed.

But you don’t have to take our word for it. NFL HOFer Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson took things up a notch on the Nightcap podcast, where the two didn’t mince words about Belichick’s actions. “Let me ask you this.” Shannon puts forward a very good point to break this down. “Tell me about the coach that’s been fired, that’s coaching somewhere else, that’s allowed to come back to the facility that he was fired at. You think Pete Carroll can go back to Seattle?” Teams and organizations invest in a culture, a future vision. And once that parting happens, the door typically slams shut.

So there’s no point in having a long face. Let’s take the case of Pete Carroll’s firing from the Seattle Seahawks in 2024. After 14 seasons, Pete’s run finally came to an unexpected close. The story goes that Seattle’s front office is led by owner Jody Allen. Despite Carroll’s storied success, including a Super Bowl XLVIII victory and nearly repeating as champs, they felt the team had settled into mediocrity over the recent years. Since that peak in 2013, the Seahawks have made the playoffs six times but haven’t advanced past the divisional round. And their 25-27 record over the last three seasons told a story of decline more than dominance. And that’s when the Seahawks opted for a change. Now here’s where things get interesting.

Unlike Bill Belichick. He seems to expect he can stroll back into the Patriots facility, only to get curtly reminded he’s not welcome. You see, Pete Carroll never once set foot in the Seahawks building after being let go. Carroll’s exit was dignified in the sense that the Seahawks gave him an advisor title after the firing, but that role was largely symbolic. So what’s the issue with the 73-year-old? “He’s mad because he got fired,” Shannon stated. “He said he’s not allowed in New England, so they shouldn’t be allowed there.” Now there’s a line one should draw when it comes to acting childish, especially when you’re head coaching an ACC program that has produced legends like Michael Jordan. Also, Exposure to top-level scouting forces players to elevate their games and adapt quickly.

Allowing Patriots scouts on the field wouldn’t weaken UNC. Instead, it would sharpen the team by forcing them to raise their level against NFL-level evaluators. So if you put things in perspective, Belichick is gambling with his players future just because of his ego. But the plot thickens. Belichick’s constant throwing shade is only making the whole split feel messier than it actually was. Robert Kraft, the man who owned the Patriots and was Bill’s longtime partner in NFL dominance, insists the breakup was “mutual.” It’s pretty clear the Patriots never banned or blacklisted Belichick from their facility.

Is it retaliation or an ego clash?

The saga between Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots can get all the salty headlines. But the real story shows something a little different beneath the surface. Despite the tension and Belichick’s recent ban on Patriots scouts from UNC practices, Robert Kraft has made it super clear that Bill Belichick is still very much welcome back at the Gillette Stadium facility. On top of that, he might also get a statue with his name on it, right next to Tom Brady’s. It’s almost like watching a complicated family reunion.

Sure, Belichick is drawing lines in the sand at UNC and acting like the Patriots slammed the door shut, but Kraft is sending the opposite signal. And Kraft’s intention to honor Bill’s incredible legacy with a statue when his coaching career ends is huge. And there’s even more to clear the air over Belichick’s so-called nagging. Belichick was present last year at Tom Brady’s Patriots Hall of Fame induction. And he also gave a killer speech.

Now, Belichick’s decision to ban Patriots scouts from UNC practices was abrupt. The Patriots reportedly acted after learning about the ban a day before a scout was supposed to visit. So it’s clear that this move comes from a place of control and maybe a pinch of frustration. But it’s important to see it separate from the bigger picture: Kraft’s handling of Belichick’s departure and ongoing relationship shows professionalism and respect.