Bill Belichick went on “SportsCenter” Tuesday to talk about North Carolina football, and, yes, the show asked him about his 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson and whether she is impacting his ability to coach the Tar Heels.
“That’s really off to the side, it’s a personal relationship and she doesn’t have anything to do with UNC football,” Belichick told ESPN anchor Christine Williamson at the ACC Spring Meetings in Amelia Island, Fla. “I’m excited to be back in the coaches meetings and getting ready for June and then August when we get to training camp.”
The 73-year-old, six-time Super Bowl-winning former coach of the New England Patriots has been under the microscope since Hudson stopped a CBS “Sunday Morning” interview last month when he was asked about how they met in 2021. The moment went viral, confirming that Hudson is very much in charge of crafting this chapter of Belichick’s public life.
UNC, which is paying Belichick $10 million to coach this season, released a statement last week denying a report that Hudson had been banned from campus and stating that she would continue to “manage all activities related to Coach Belichick’s personal brand outside of his responsibilities for Carolina football and the university.”
North Carolina also confirmed it hired a veteran public relations executive to work closely with Belichick, who spent the weekend supporting Hudson at the Miss Maine beauty pageant. She placed third.
UNC was in talks to be featured on NFL Films’ “Hard Knocks” documentary series, but the partnership didn’t come to fruition, with Hudson playing an instrumental role in talks breaking down.
Belichick signed a five-year, $50 million contract with UNC in December. Only the first three years are guaranteed. He would owe the school a $10 million buyout if he were to leave before June 1. Two of Belichick’s sons are on the football staff: Steve Belichick is the defensive coordinator, and Brian Belichick coaches the defensive backs.
The Tar Heels finished 6-7 in 2024, Mack Brown’s final season. The roster is very much in flux, with more than 70 players from last year’s team gone and close to 40 additions via the transfer portal. There’s also a freshman class of close to 30 recruits.
Among the departures from last season: first-round pick and two-time All-American running back Omarion Hampton, All-American guard Willie Lampkin and eight of the team’s top 10 tacklers.
The defensive losses include Beau Atkinson and Amare Campbell, who left for Ohio State and Penn State, respectively. Atkinson led the Tar Heels in tackles for loss (12) and sacks (7.5), and Campbell ranked second in tackles (76), tackles for loss (10.5) and sacks (6.5) last season. North Carolina has not finished in the top 50 in scoring defense since 2019.
General manager Michael Lombardi said recently he’s been trying to make North Carolina look like an SEC team. The Tar Heels beefed up mostly on the offensive and defensive lines through the portal.
Belichick said the team made a lot of progress during spring ball.
“Hard working group, really care, been very responsive to what we’ve asked them to do,” Belichick said.
North Carolina hasn’t won an ACC title since 1980. Asked what his expectations are for the upcoming season, Belichick responded: “Stack good days together.”
“Just keep building to higher ground. It’s not about where we’re going to be X number of months or weeks from now,” he said. “It’s trying to take advantage of every opportunity to come along the way and make the most of it.”
(Photo: Peyton Williams / Getty Images)