New England head coach Mike Vrabel says six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick is welcome at the Patriots’ facilities “to the best of my knowledge.”
Vrabel gave that statement Monday, responding to Belichick’s recent claim that he wasn’t welcome in Foxborough.
Vrabel added that “nothing surprises me” when asked about Belichick, in his first year as head coach at North Carolina, retaliating to the alleged slight by banning Patriots scouts from his campus.
“Bill came back for, to the best of my knowledge, (to) Tom’s ceremony,” Vrabel said in his weekly interview Monday with WEEI, referencing Belichick’s appearance at Tom Brady’s team Hall of Fame ceremony in June 2024. “So I guess he’s welcomed back based on the fact he was there. I’ll just go by that — since his departure as the head coach here, he’s been back. I’ll leave it at that.”
Belichick confirmed his ban of New England scouts following Saturday night’s 20-3 win against Charlotte, his first victory with the Tar Heels.
“It’s obvious I’m not welcome at their facility, so they’re not welcome at ours,” Belichick said.
Vrabel lost his coaching debut with the Patriots on Sunday, falling 20-13 at home to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Vrabel won three Super Bowl rings as a linebacker with Belichick’s Patriots from 2001-08.
