EA Sports College Football 26 was released today for fans who pre-ordered the Deluxe edition. One of the most notable updates in this year’s game is the addition of real-life college coaches.
Over 300 coaches are featured, but a few prominent names are missing, including new North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick. While there could be several reasons Belichick chose not to appear, many fans speculate that his absence is due to influence from his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson.
Fans Blaming Girlfriend Jordon Hudson for North Carolina HC Bill Belichick’s College Football 26 Absence
Since Jordon Hudson started dating Bill Belichick, she has received plenty of heat from fans and the media. Headlines have been made about her involvement with the Tar Heels football program, and many fans think she’s calling the shots instead of Belichick.
So it’s no surprise that when it was announced that Belichick officially isn’t in College Football 26, fans took to the internet to blame Hudson for his absence.
Deion Sanders and Bill Belichick declined to be in EA Sports College Football 26❌
(via @ChrisVannini) https://t.co/f8munchL5d pic.twitter.com/CS3ssGL3kq
— On3 (@On3sports) July 7, 2025
One fan believes Belichick’s absence was because Hudson flat-out told him, “No.”
Explanation for Belichick:
Jordon said no.
— Garage Gameday Sports (@GamedayGarage) July 7, 2025
Another fan jokingly claimed that Hudson blocked Belichick from being in the game because she couldn’t be in it.
Lmao she couldn’t be in the game so she said no to him
— Edgar Ramos (@Eggman85) July 7, 2025
Belichick’s Relationship With Video Game Portrayal
While there’s no denying that these fans are clever, Belichick has rarely given EA the rights to his name or likeness for any video game, including Madden. The legendary coach has been notoriously protective of his image rights throughout his career.
Despite being the head coach of the New England Patriots for 24 seasons, Belichick’s last appearance in a video game was for Madden 2002. That means he stayed out of EA Sports games for over two decades, long before Hudson entered the picture. His absence from College Football 26 follows the same pattern he established during his NFL coaching career.
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The timing makes sense, too. Belichick was hired by North Carolina in December 2024, giving him limited time to negotiate licensing deals before the game’s development cycle concluded. EA Sports typically finalizes coach likenesses months before release.
So, while fans’ theories about Hudson blocking Belichick from the game are funny, they’re likely not the reason for his absence. The coach has been saying no to video game appearances for over 20 years, making this just another chapter in his long-standing policy of controlling his image rights.
