On September 2, 2025, New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel weighed in on Bill Belichick’s first game in charge at North Carolina, telling WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show that quick turnarounds can happen in college football—pointing to Urban Meyer’s 12-0 start at Ohio State—after UNC stumbled in its Monday night opener amid sweeping roster changes.
Key Takeaways
- Vrabel discussed Belichick’s college head-coaching debut during an appearance on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show.
- He cited Urban Meyer’s 12-0 first season at Ohio State, where Vrabel served as defensive line coach.
- UNC struggled in its season opener on Monday night under Belichick.
- Belichick and adviser Mike Lombardi reportedly oversaw a major roster overhaul, with around 70 additions.
- The exchange was relayed via Ryan Phillips of SI.com and reported by NBC Sports’ ProFootballTalk.
- Tensions between Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft form a backdrop to ongoing narratives, per multiple reports.
- Vrabel’s remarks suggest successful rebuilds can be immediate, though results vary by program and circumstance.
Verified Facts
Vrabel spoke on The Greg Hill Show on WEEI, addressing Belichick’s rough debut as North Carolina’s head coach. The game took place on Monday night, ending in a disappointing result for the Tar Heels.
Asked whether college rebuilds require patience, Vrabel referenced his experience at Ohio State under Urban Meyer. In 2012, Meyer’s Buckeyes went 12-0, and Vrabel was the defensive line coach in Columbus that season.
Reporting cited by ProFootballTalk noted that Belichick and adviser Mike Lombardi orchestrated an extensive roster remake at UNC, with roughly 70 new players arriving ahead of the opener.
The conversation was aggregated by Ryan Phillips at SI.com from Vrabel’s WEEI appearance. NBC Sports’ ProFootballTalk subsequently framed Vrabel’s perspective within wider narratives around Belichick’s transition to college coaching.
Context & Impact
Belichick’s move into the college ranks places him in a rapidly evolving environment shaped by the transfer portal and NIL, where swift turnarounds are possible but not guaranteed. Vrabel’s Meyer comparison underscores that elite rebuilds can come together quickly—though Ohio State’s circumstances in 2012 were markedly different from UNC’s current reset.
A heavy influx of new players can bring long-term upside but early-season inconsistency. UNC’s opener offered a first stress test of Belichick’s approach; how quickly the roster gels will likely define the trajectory of his inaugural season.
Narratives surrounding Belichick’s past with the Patriots—and reported friction with owner Robert Kraft—add public scrutiny, though they have limited direct bearing on UNC’s on-field adjustment period beyond media attention.
Official Statements
Vrabel noted that Urban Meyer “won 12 of his first 12” at Ohio State, implying that immediate improvement is possible at the college level.
Mike Vrabel on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show
Host Greg Hill asked whether it generally takes time to build a college program, prompting Vrabel’s Meyer comparison.
The Greg Hill Show (WEEI)
Unconfirmed
- The exact count of “around 70” new UNC players has not been independently verified here beyond aggregated reporting.
- Specific game details (opponent, scoreline, player stats) were not cited in the sourced reports.
- Characterizations of the Belichick–Robert Kraft relationship rely on prior reporting and are not newly substantiated in this segment.
Bottom Line
Vrabel’s message was straightforward: college turnarounds can be immediate—he lived one at Ohio State—yet UNC’s opening stumble shows Belichick’s rebuild may take time. The next few weeks will indicate whether the Tar Heels can convert a large roster overhaul into cohesive, competitive football.