Bill Belichick’s transition from NFL legend to college football has produced several eyebrow-raising moments.
The former New England Patriots head coach recently made a decision that has the football world talking about his methods once again.
North Carolina’s new head coach has banned Patriots scouts from attending Tar Heels practices. The move quickly generated criticism from multiple corners.
Analyst Ted Johnson Jr. delivered a scathing assessment of Belichick’s decision during a recent radio appearance.
“Why on earth would any parent want their kid to go to a school where the head coach doesn’t allow an NFL team to come scout their player? Why would any player want to go to a school where the head coach has an ego so big that he is willing to sacrifice an opportunity, perhaps for that player, just to satisfy his ego? It makes absolutely no sense. […] They dubbed this team as the 33rd team, acting as if he was treating this program like it’s an NFL program. It’s nothing like that. It’s kind of embarrassing and quite pathetic,” Johnson Jr. said on WEEI Afternoons.
"Bill Belichick banning Patriots scouts is embarrassing and pathetic" – @Teddyjradio https://t.co/zgDXdQIM8C pic.twitter.com/vs2ZFa4mvr
— WEEI Afternoons (@WEEIAfternoons) September 4, 2025
Belichick and the Patriots ended their 24-year partnership after the 2023 season.
The split concluded a run that delivered six Super Bowl titles but struggled through recent years with consecutive losing seasons in 2022 and 2023.
Reports suggest the separation involved more than just poor records. Sources indicate Belichick faced challenges assembling the right talent once he gained full personnel control.
His roster construction and staff decisions drew internal criticism.
The college experiment has produced mixed results so far. North Carolina suffered a 48-14 loss to TCU that drew national attention for all the wrong reasons.
Belichick may have viewed the college position as a pathway back to the NFL.
His controversial decisions continue generating debate and keeping him in football conversations, though not always for positive reasons.
NEXT: Rich Eisen Names His Top-10 NFL Teams