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The resistance between New England Patriots And Bill Belichick took another trip on Monday when head coach Mike Vabel said the former NFL coach is welcome at the team’s facility, despite Belichick’s previous comments that indicated otherwise.
Vrabel’s comments come days after Belichick confirmed reports that Patriot’s scouts were forbidden to have access to the University of North Carolina program.
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick looks from the sidelines during the first half of a NCAA football match against Charlotte in Charlotte, NC, Saturday 6 September 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
“Obviously, I’m not welcome there about their facility,” he said Saturday night after picking up his first win with TAK HEELS. “So they are not welcome at ours. It’s pretty simple.”
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But according to Vrabel, the door has always been open to the legendary coach.
“Nothing surprises me,” Vrabel said during his weekly performance on Weei Radio Monday. “I mean he came back – as far as I know – Tom’s ceremony.”
Vrabel referred to Belichick’s performance at Gillette Stadium in June 2024, when Tom Brady was introduced to Team Hall of Fame.
New England Patriot’s main coach Mike Vabel looks at during the first half against New York Giants at Metlife Stadium on August 21, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/ Imag images)
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“I assume he is welcome back based on the fact that he was there. So I just want to go past it. Since his departure as a head coach here, he has been back and I leave it to it.”
Belichick and the Patriots split after the 2023 season, with both calling the decision amicable, but reports at that time speculated that the split was anything but harmonious. Then, just last week, Patriots owner Robert Kraft said that Belichick would get his own statue ahead of Gillette Stadium.
Bill Belichick shares ‘rather simple’ reason to ban the Patriots staff from the football program
New England Patriot’s main coach Bill Belichick and Patriot’s owner Robert Kraft see the field during the warm -up period before a game against Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium. (Eric Canha/USA Today Sports)
“When the great 20-year-old era ended, it was always my intention to order a statue for both Tommy and Bill when their respective careers were over, played and coaching. When Bill’s coaching career ends, we look forward to sitting with him and having a statue made to be right next to Tommy,” Power told CBS News.
It is unclear what happened in the last few weeks that led to the seemingly bad blood between the Belichick and the Patriots organization.
