Mike Vrabel Says Bill Belichick Has Been Welcomed Back at Patriots Facility, Disputes Coach's Claim
Vrabel pushed back after Belichick said he was not welcome at Gillette Stadium and confirmed reports Patriots scouts were barred from UNC
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel on Monday disputed remarks from Bill Belichick that the longtime coach was unwelcome at the Patriots' facilities, saying Belichick has returned to Gillette Stadium since his departure and was welcome to do so.
The comments came after Belichick, now the head coach at the University of North Carolina, said following his first win with the Tar Heels that "It's clear I'm not welcome there around their facility. So, they're not welcome at ours. It’s pretty simple." Belichick also confirmed reports that Patriots scouts had been barred from access to the UNC program.
"Nothing surprises me," Vrabel said during his weekly appearance on WEEI radio. "I mean, he came back for — to the best of my knowledge — Tom’s ceremony. I guess he’s welcome back based on the fact that he was there. So, I’ll just go by that. Since his departure as the head coach here, he’s been back, and I’ll leave it at that."
Vrabel was referring to Belichick's appearance at Gillette Stadium in June 2024 for the Patriots' Hall of Fame ceremony honoring Tom Brady. Belichick stepped down as New England's head coach after the 2023 season; both sides described the split as amicable at the time.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft last week told CBS News that the team planned to commission a statue of Belichick to stand alongside Brady's statue when Belichick's coaching career is finished. "When that great 20-year era ended, it was always my intention to commission a statue for both Tommy and Bill when their respective careers were over, playing and coaching," Kraft said. "When Bill’s coaching career ends, we look forward to sitting down with him and having a statue made to be right next to Tommy."
The exchange has highlighted tensions between Belichick and the organization in recent days, but the precise cause of the apparent rift has not been publicly detailed by either Belichick or the Patriots. Belichick made his comments after a game with UNC, and the Patriots have not issued a public rebuttal to his account that he felt unwelcome.
Belichick, who built New England into a perennial contender over two decades, accepted the UNC job in 2025. He and the Patriots have maintained occasional contact since his departure, including appearances at team events. Vrabel, in his remarks, framed Belichick's return visits as evidence the coach remains welcome around the organization.
The dispute comes as both the NFL and college coaching landscapes continue to evolve, and as organizations safeguard access and information between professional and collegiate programs. Patriots spokesman and team officials did not immediately provide further comment on Vrabel's or Belichick's statements.
Vrabel's rebuttal underscores an ongoing public exchange between a franchise and its former coach, with each side offering different characterizations of the relationship. Beyond statements from Vrabel, Belichick and Kraft, few public facts have been disclosed about what led to the current disagreement.
The situation could shape perceptions of the Patriots' handling of its coaching legacy and its relationship with Belichick as he pursues his second act at the collegiate level. For now, the competing statements stand as the primary public record of the dispute.