Bill Belichick’s UNC coaching stint sours with losses, lawsuit and all eyes on girlfriend Jordon Hudson

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Bill Belichick’s UNC coaching stint sours with losses, lawsuit and all eyes on girlfriend Jordon Hudson

An image collage containing 4 images, Image 1 shows Jordon Hudson and Bill Belichick at a UNC football game, Image 2 shows A CBS Sunday Morning interview setup with four individuals, including Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson, Image 3 shows Jordan Hudson wearing a teal bikini and a white

Jeanette Settembre · NY Post Sports

Sat, Sep 27, 2025 ·

8 min read

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Bill Belichick became an eight-time Super Bowl champion with one ironclad rule – no distractions.

Yet, his inaugural year as head coach for the University of North Carolina is rife with them: A lawsuit, blow out losses and his 24-year-old girlfriend on the sidelines, who some say is grabbing too much attention.

Considered by many the greatest coach in NFL history, Belichick, 73, is also now named in a bombshell lawsuit filed Monday accusing UNC and its board of trustees of illegally hiring him as head coach behind closed doors.

Belichick was the subject of a lawsuit filed Monday accusing UNC and its board of trustees of illegally hiring him as head coach behind closed doors. Filmsbyjosh / BACKGRID

The allegations come days after a 34-9 blow-out loss to University of Central FloridaSaturday knocking the Tar Heels down to 2-2 as they entered their bye week before facing the Clemson Tigers on Oct. 4.

While the performance was deemed "embarrassing" by spectators, Belichick's girlfriend Jordon Hudson, 49 years his junior, made headlines Saturday when she was seen giving the coach a pep talk in a pregame clip.

UNC students are shocked, saying this isn't the Belichick — winer of two Super Bowls as a defensive coordinator with the New York Giants and six with the Patriots — they were expecting.

"So far, Bill's position has done nothing for UNC except cause them drama," an insider told The Post.

"I bet if they can, they will fire him at the end of the season," the insider added.

Insiders also told The Post they feel Hudson's presence is tarnishing Belichick's historic legacy – and reputation as one of the most respected coaches in American football.

Belichick has faced continued scrutiny following the 34-9 blow out loss to UCF Saturday, with 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson making headlines for appearing on the sidelines before the game. Filmsbyjosh / BACKGRID

"She's single handedly making Bill look bad – he's no longer the GOAT," another source told The Post.

"Jordon seems to be using her PR team to paint herself as this amazing human, but we have seen a side of her that is the exact opposite," the source said, referring to a glowing cover story in US Magazine, containing sources speaking fondly of the former cheerleader.

Then there's the legal trouble. The lawsuit filed Monday by former UNC administrator Chris Clemons and lawyer David McKenzie, highlights an "emergency meeting" called by the board on Dec. 24, 2024, in which they signed off on Belichick's hiring in a closed session.

Jordan Hudson is seen at the Miss Maine USA. Toby Canham for NY Post

Hudson was featured in a cover story in US Magazine earlier this week.

The suit claims it is one of three examples of the University's board of trustees discussing "matters of grave public concern behind closed doors."

Clemens also claims he was punished for "leaking closed-session information" to staffers.

UNC board of trustees chairman Malcolm Turner denied Clemens' allegations outright, telling Front Office Sports the claims are "disappointing and inaccurate."

UNC, Belichick and Hudson did not respond to a request for comment by The Post.

"They're having a little chat session. In close – sweet nothings. Have you ever seen the girlfriend or the wife – I don't remember seeing it on the sidelines in this situation. They're warming up, ready to go to the game," Dave Portnoy asked Greg Olsen and Jon Gruden of Hudson's presence so close to game time on Monday's "Wake Up Barstool." Getty Images

Even before the start of Belichick's tenure at UNC, people were raising eyebrows over his recent decisions.

Front and center has been his whirlwind romance with Hudson, a former Bridgewater State University cheerleader, whom he met in 2021 on a flight from Massachusetts to Florida.

The pair claimed they bonded over her philosophy studies, with the former New England coach signing a copy of Hudson's textbook.

Their dating timeline is a little unclear. They began dating in 2023 following Belichick's split from partner Linda Holliday — his girlfriend of 16 years. However, his relationship with Hudson didn't become public until June 2024.

A year later it was reported Hudson and Holliday were snarling at each other, with the former allegedly calling Belichick's ex "delusional," in a messages via social media, according to the Daily Mail.

Hudson has been inseparable from Belichick's since they started dating, appearing at the December 2024 press conference when Belichick announced his new position as head coach at UNC.

The Hancock, Maine-born beauty was also his date to the Super Bowl in February and, in a display of serious chutzpah, managed to negotiate her way into appearing with him in a Dunkin' Super Bowl ad alongside Boston native A-listers Ben and Casey Affleck.

An insider told The Post Hudson is tarnishing Belichick's historic legacy – and reputation as one of the most respected coaches in American football. "She's single handedly making Bill look bad – he's no longer the GOAT," the insider told The Post. Instagram / @jordon_isabella

Belichick then made headlines when he suddenly appeared in the front row to watch Hudson compete in the Miss Maine pageant in Portland earlier this year.

In April, the acclaimed football coach made headlines for his disastrous interview with CBS's Tony Dokoupil when Hudson awkwardly interrupted during a question when Dokoupil innocently asked how he met Hudson.

"We're not talking about this," the former cheerleader told Dokoupil from off-camera, during the interview, which was supposed to be about Belichick's book, " The Art of Winning ."

The apparent sensitivity over the question baffled many, since the couple have publicly told how they met previously.

Dokoupil also noted Hudson was "a constant presence during the interview," despite being off camera. At the time, reports also alleged she stormed off set and held up the interview by 30 minutes.

The disastrous incident even sparked some from Belichick's closest circle to speak out about Hudson's apparent poor etiquette.

"We're not talking about this," the former cheerleader told CBS' Tony Dokoupil from off-camera, during the interview about Belichick's "The Art of Winning."

Belichick's daughter-in-law, Jennifer Belichick, the wife of Bill's oldest son Stephen, 38, called out Hudson (left) for "storming off" and not acting in a "professional manner" during the CBS interview that aired in April. CBS

Belichick's daughter-in-law, JenniferBelichick, the wife of Bill's oldest son Stephen, 38, called out Hudson for "storming off" and not acting in a "professional manner," in a comment on an Instagram post.

The legendary football coach's friends were left "shaking their heads," an insider told The Post that month. "They're talking to him about her, but very gently because they know how deep in he is. She saw an opening and she took it," the insider added of how the former cheerleader inserted herself into the coach's life and career.

Folks in Belichick's orbit, a separate source told The Post in April, find the relationship "alarming" and suggested Hudson "is a runaway train."

Once Belichick started as UNC coach, Hudson immediately made her presence known. She asked to be cc'd on emails from the university for matters related to Belichick's personal brand, social media and other content, The Athletic reported in April 2025.

"He's too worried about talking to his girlfriend on the sidelines," one student who works at a store near the Kenan Memorial Stadium told The Post, asking to remain anonymous. Filmsbyjosh / BACKGRID

The respectable narrative on Belichick took a sharp turn ever since his relationship with Hudson — a former college cheerleader whom he met on a flight in 2021 — went public in 2024, though the pair was first spotted together in early 2023. Jordon Hudson/Instagram

UNC students who had been excited about Belichick's arrival say they are now frustrated.

"He's too worried about talking to his girlfriend on the sidelines," one student who works near the Kenan Stadium told The Post, asking to remain anonymous.

"It's frustrating to watch as a UNC student – our school is giving him so much money. We're putting in millions of dollars for him to coach. It's a professional role and he's treating it like it's nothing."

Hudson has remained by Belichick's side since their relationship went public in 2024, appearing at the December, 2024 press conference when Belichick announced his new position as the head coach at UNC. Getty Images for Fanatics

Belichick supported Hudson at the Miss Maine pageant in Protland earlier this year. Toby Canham for NY Post

Belichick and UNC football are also the subject of an upcoming Hulu documentary series airing this fall. Although Hudson was reported to be "heavily involved in the project," it is not yet clear if she will appear on-screen in it.

A second student, sophomore Jacob Evans, 19, majoring in history, told The Post he doesn't think the UNC Athletic Department is happy with what's going on.

"It's crunch time for Carolina athletics. I'm sure they're not enthusiastic about it — at first they were getting money for merch that was contingent on them winning. Now it's turning into a circus show," Evans said. However, he also noted Hudson hasn't been as "front and center" as she once was.

"Morale is pretty bad. People feel a little let down – as an undergrad not having a connection with the program, it feels like a wasted opportunity," Evans said.

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