Bill Belichick is one of the greatest coaches in NFL history, winning six Super Bowls during his 24 seasons with the New England Patriots. He didn’t coach in 2024 after being let go by the Patriots at the end of the 2023 season.
Then, in a surprising move, Belichick signed on as the head coach of the University of North Carolina’s football program earlier this offseason. It’s the first time in his long career that he’s coaching in the college ranks.
But the most talked-about story around the 73-year-old has little to do with football. It’s about his relationship with 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson.
Ryan Clark Avoids Conversation On ESPN About Bill Belichick’s Bizarre Relationship
Football’s most talked-about couple is back in the headlines after a recent interview in which Hudson sometimes seemed to speak on Belichick’s behalf.
Naturally, ESPN’s “First Take” ran a full segment on the interview, which got so awkward and personal that former NFL safety Ryan Clark, who spent eight years competing against Belichick in the AFC with the Steelers, walked off set during the discussion.
The segment covered several Belichick-related topics, but the hosts’ main takeaway was that something feels off about the coach’s relationship, especially the large age gap.
Stephen A. Smith wrapped the segment with a sharp comment: “[Bill Belichick is] a grown man… You spent 20 years not answering questions you didn’t want to answer [as a head coach]. We don’t need somebody else telling us you’re not answering something.”
TRENDING: Ryan Clark walked off ‘First Take’ on ESPN today because he was angry Chris Russo and Stephen A. Smith were ripping Bill Belichick and his 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson.
😳
Wow…
pic.twitter.com/XsFS6rnC2a— MLFootball (@_MLFootball)
If you’ve missed it, a recent CBS interview with Belichick included some tense moments around his personal life. While it was supposed to focus on his upcoming book, The Art of Winning – Lessons from My Life in Football, the conversation shifted to his relationship with Hudson, who stood nearby during the taping.
Belichick later released a statement about the interview, suggesting that CBS’s editing attempted to create a false narrative about his girlfriend controlling him during the interview.
UNC releases a statement from Bill Belichick regarding his recent CBS Sunday Morning interview. It says that it's a "false narrative" that his girlfriend, Jordan Hudson was attempting to control the interview. "It presents selectively edited clips and stills from just a few… pic.twitter.com/9lnB4ek03g
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel)
Belichick built his reputation as “Darth Hoodie,” a coach so blunt and brief with the media that asking him a question often got more scowl than answer. So it’s odd to see him now in a public relationship, where Hudson seems even more private and guarded than ever.
The two are in a domestic partnership, and outside opinions on personal relationships often turn into loud, exaggerated takes. That’s likely why Clark chose to leave the conversation.
As for UNC, the Tar Heels will hope this media circus fades before the 2025 college football season kicks off. Belichick has plenty to fix after UNC finished 6-7 (3-5 in the ACC) last year after quarterback Drake Maye left for the NFL.
