North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick is pushing back against criticism that his highly publicized relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson has become a distraction to his program.
“That’s really off to the side,” he told ESPN at ACC Spring Meetings. “It’s a personal relationship and she doesn’t have anything to do with UNC football.”
The 73-year-old coaching icon and Hudson made headlines in February when they walked the red carpet together at the American Museum of Natural History Gala, drawing widespread attention due to their 49-year age difference.
Public curiosity intensified in April, when Hudson appeared in the background of a CBS Mornings interview promoting Belichick’s memoir, The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football.
When asked about how the couple met, Hudson cut in from off-camera: “We’re not talking about this.”
That awkward exchange fueled speculation, which Belichick later addressed in a public statement: “Some of the clips make it appear as though we were avoiding the question of how we met, but we have been open about the fact that Jordon and I met on a flight to Palm Beach in 2021,” he said.
Despite that explanation, reports continue to raise questions about Hudson’s role behind the scenes.
Last month, NBC Sports’ Mike Florio reported that Hudson has been “very involved” in Belichick’s work at UNC, including coaching duties and discussions surrounding a potential documentary with NFL Films.
“From his coaching job at North Carolina to the program’s negotiations with NFL Films about a Hard Knocks-style documentary/infomercial, she is taking a very active role and exerting a very high degree of influence,” Florio reported.
Belichick, however, rejected that characterization earlier this week.
When asked by ESPN whether he’s addressed the relationship with his team, Belichick said, “We want to make the players the best they can be and provide them the best opportunity on and off the field … That’s what we’re about at UNC and we’re going to do the best for every single player that we have.”
Still, the relationship – and Hudson’s reported eagerness to be involved in Belichick’s public and commercial ventures – continues to spark headlines.
Hudson allegedly forced her way into a Dunkin’ Super Bowl commercial and tried to be included in a sportsbook ad, according to reports.
During the CBS Sunday Morning interview, she reportedly controlled access and steered questions away from personal topics and at one point stormed off the set, causing a 30-minute delay in production.
Now, attention turns to Belichick’s upcoming interview on Good Morning America, where he’ll sit down with former NFL star Michael Strahan.
The interview is scheduled to air Friday morning, and GMA is billing it as a major exclusive.
The pairing is compelling: Strahan, now a respected broadcaster, famously helped lead the New York Giants to a Super Bowl win over Belichick’s New England Patriots.
But this time, Strahan will be tasked with navigating a different kind of matchup – balancing respectful conversation with journalistic integrity.
Florio warned that Strahan’s handling of the interview could shape public perception.
“It’s hard to imagine Belichick agreeing to a no-holds-barred interview, given the contents of his prickly email regarding the publicity efforts for his book. Still, Strahan will need to come at Belichick with at least one question that makes him harumph or sigh or roll his eyes,” Florio stated.
“Otherwise, Strahan will be perceived as taking the same kind of dive Brett Favre once did, when Strahan was trying to break Mark Gastineau’s single-season sack record.”
Whether the interview addresses Hudson in any meaningful way remains to be seen.
If it does, many will be watching to see if Belichick reinforces the line he drew earlier this week – keeping personal matters separate from the program he now leads.
Until then, questions will linger. But for now, Belichick insists: “She doesn’t have anything to do with UNC football.”
What are your thoughts on Belichick’s upcoming interview on GMA? … Do you think Strahan will actually ask him the questions that people want to hear???
