Seems like he has bigger things to worry about.
It’s been a rough start to his college coaching career for Bill Belichick. The legendary coach of the New England Patriots, who won six Super Bowls during his time in Foxborough, took his first job in the college ranks as the head coach of the UNC Tar Heels, and to say the experiment isn’t going well is an understatement.
The team opened the season with a humiliating 48-14 loss to TCU before winning games against Charlotte and Richmond. (Not exactly powerhouse schools, but a win is a win). But the past couple games, the wheels have really seemed to fall off as UNC has dropped lopsided games against UCF and Clemson, leading to questions of whether Belichick could really end up getting fired before his first season in Chapel Hill is even in the books.
Then of course there’s also all the off the field drama, mostly surrounding his 24-year old girlfriend Jordon Hudson, as well as his feud with his former team, the New England Patriots.
Belichick was fired by the Patriots following the 2023 season, after the team’s second consecutive losing season and second straight season missing the playoffs. It was the only time during his 23 years in Foxborough that the team had two losing seasons in a row, and the team hadn’t been to the Super Bowl since 2018 – the longest stretch of his career with the Patriots without making the big game.
Of course the departure of quarterback Tom Brady no doubt had a lot to do with his falloff, and it was announced that Belichick and the team had “mutually agreed” to part ways, but it’s pretty clear that the coach wasn’t happy with the way he was let go after such an incredible career.
And apparently those hard feelings have spilled over into his new gig, as Belichick confirmed a few weeks ago that scouts from the New England Patriots are not welcome at UNC while claiming that it was because he’s not welcome at their facility:
“It’s clear that I’m not welcome there around their facility, so they’re not welcome in ours. Pretty simple.”
Now, I’m not entirely sure why Belichick says he’s not welcome at Patriots facilities. After he was fired, owner Robert Kraft invited Belichick to speak at Tom Brady’s induction into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame, where he was seated at a table directly next to the owner. And just last month, Kraft confirmed that he planned to erect a Bill Belichick statue outside of Gillette Stadium once the coach’s career is over.
But apparently banning the Patriots from their facility isn’t the only directive that Belichick has made surrounding his former team: He’s also banned UNC from making any mention of them on social media.
If you missed last night’s Sunday Night Football game, UNC alum Drake Maye led the Patriots to an incredible win over the Super Bowl favorite Buffalo Bills in Buffalo. It wasn’t a pretty game, but the sophomore quarterback put on a show in his 17th career start, going 22 of 30 for 273 yards en route to one of the biggest upsets of the young NFL season.
Of course after one of their alums puts on a show like that, colleges are usually quick to hop on social media and remind everyone where he came from. But if you look at UNC’s social media, there’s no mention of Maye or his performance. No congratulatory post, and not even a retweet. And that’s reportedly because of Belichick.
According to Ross Martin, the coach has given an order not to post anything related to the Patriots on UNC’s social media:
As Martin points out, that means that UNC is missing out on a huge marketing and recruiting opportunity, being able to highlight their most successful and high profile current NFL player:
It should come as no surprise though, given the feud between Belichick and his former team. But it’s also only hurting his own team and players, and it seems like a coach like Belichick should be better than doing something so petty over a personal beef.
There are also indications, though, that Hudson may be playing a key role in the team’s social media. Earlier this year it was revealed that Belichick had asked UNC staff to copy Hudson on any emails related to social media, and Hudson also sent an email to UNC staff asking why social media comments criticizing the coach and their relationship weren’t being deleted.
It’s honestly a sad look for one of the all-time great coaches in the NFL, worrying about what his team is posting on social media because of a personal beef. Belichick has long been known for wanting to stay out of the media and focus on football, but now it seems that he’s more worried about his own personal feelings and image than he is fixing whatever is wrong with the Tar Heels.
Tough way to go out, if he can’t turn things around in Chapel Hill.
