Bill Belichick Bans Patriots Staff from UNC Program
North Carolina and first-year coach Bill Belichick have banned the New England Patriots’ staff from accessing the Tar Heels’ program, according to sources.
When reached for comment, North Carolina football general manager Michael Lombardi said, “Good luck,” before hanging up the phone. UNC otherwise declined to comment.
Lombardi and Tar Heels pro liaison Frantzy Jourdain informed the Patriots of the ban the day before one of their scouts was scheduled to visit in August, a source with direct knowledge said.
Belichick, who spent 24 years as the head coach of the Patriots before his tenure ended after the 2023 season, has since taken a different approach to NFL access at North Carolina.
Two NFL scouts from other teams said the Tar Heels, under Belichick’s leadership, provide limited access to league personnel. Clubs are permitted to speak only with Jourdain, and UNC’s college relations website specifies that “scouts will have zero access to coaches or other personnel people.” The term “zero access” appears multiple times on the site, which is restricted to NFL personnel.
One scout added that NFL representatives are allowed to watch only three periods of practice at UNC. While policies vary by school, many programs typically allow scouts to observe full practices.
“Can’t think of another school with a statement of ‘zero access,’” one scout said.
