Just three days after suffering the second-most lopsided loss of his career, but arguably his most humiliating because it came in his college coaching debut after 29 years as an NFL head coach, Bill Belichick has made another strange and drastic decision — but this one directly affects his players on the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Belichick’s decision to jump to the college ranks at age 73 after a NFL coaching career that spanned 50 years could itself be seen as an unusual decision — perhaps as inexplicable as his decision to bench New England Patriots starting cornerback Malcolm Butler in Super Bowl 52.
Or his decision on Monday to start redshirt sophomore transfer acquisition Gio Lopez at quarterback over Max Johnson, a six-year veteran with experience on two SEC teams in Texas A&M and LSU.
Previous Odd Decisions Did Not Work Out Well
The latter two decisions had disastrous results. Without Butler, the Patriots secondary allowed Philadelphia Eagles backup quarterback Nick Foles o throw for 373 yards and three touchdowns as the Patriots lost 41-33.
And on Monday, Lopez managed just four completions for 69 yards, throwing a pick-six interception and giving up a scoop-and-score fumble before leaving with a back injury in an absolutely disastrous UNC debut.
Reported New Move Hurts Belichick’s Own Players
Belichick’s latest decision, however, will not have quite such an immediate impact — but it could have a direct, long-term impact on the future of his Tar Heels players, and not a good impact.
According to John Middlekauff, host of the 3 And Out podcast, Belichick has banned scouts representing the Patriots — the team Belichick coached to a record six Super Bowl championships in his 24 years at the helm — from attending UNC practices where they could evaluate the team’s players as potential NFL prospects.
Oddly, the decision comes the day after Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced his intention to build a statue of the legendary Patriots coach outside Gillette Stadium, to accompany the statue of quarterback Tom Brady unveiled earlier this year.
But since Kraft fired him following the Patriots 4-13 2023 season, Belichick has been engaged in a feud with the Patriots owner, tossing barbs back and forth in the press.
While Belichick has not given any reason for banning Patriots scouts from UNC, the decision appears to be his latest salvo in that ongoing battle.
‘It’s a Stupid Move,’ Expert Says
Belichick’s latest move appears especially petty give that when he was in consideration for the UNC coaching job, Belichick declared that any college team he coached would become a “pipeline to the NFL.”
Banning scouts from any NFL team certainly goes against Belichick’s “pipeline” concept, and looks even stranger given that the Patriots current quarterback, 2024 No. 3 overall draft pick Drake Maye, played all three of his college seasons at North Carolina.
“It’s a stupid move, a reflection of his infantile pettiness regarding his former employer,” wrote Pro Football Talk founder Mike Florio on Thursday. Belichick’s biggest selling point is that he can get college football players ready to play in the NFL. So why would he stop any NFL team from properly evaluating North Carolina players?
After Monday’s blowout loss to Texas Christian, UNC should be able to score Belichick his first couple of college wins, thanks to a cupcake schedule.
The Tar Heels face an American Conference team, Charlotte, and a Patriot Conference squad, Richmond, before squaring off against a Big 12 opponent in Central Florida. That game is followed by ACC rival Clemson, the first national top 20 opponent (no. 9) on Belichick’s agenda this season.
Bill Belichick Makes Drastic New Decision, This One Affects UNC Players: Report