Bill Belichick, renowned as one of the greatest NFL coaches, has taken the helm of the University of North Carolina's football program. Yet, ESPN commentator Paul Finebaum is more concerned with the distractions surrounding Belichick's personal life than the implications for the team.
During a segment on ESPN’s Get Up, Finebaum, 69, expressed his desire for Belichick to keep his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, out of the spotlight. “That’s been the distracting story all offseason. The games will help take care of that, as long as she’s out of the way, and Bill Belichick does what he does best: coach,” he stated on June 4.
Belichick, 73, joined UNC early in the offseason, but his relationship with Hudson, 24, has overshadowed his efforts to build a competitive roster. Finebaum did not hold back, suggesting that it might be time for Belichick to make a tough decision. “I’m going to go where I shouldn’t go, but then again, we’re talking about Bill Belichick. He has fired coaches, gotten rid of great players; it’s time for him to fire his girlfriend,” he remarked. “Listen, I’m happy for them, but North Carolina hired him because he’s a great coach, not to be a distraction.”
The scrutiny surrounding Belichick and Hudson intensified in April when he appeared on CBS Sunday Morning to discuss his book, The Art of Winning: Lessons From My Life in Football. When asked by journalist Tony Dokoupil about their meeting, Hudson interjected, “We’re not talking about this.”
In May, North Carolina Athletics issued a statement clarifying Hudson's role in managing Belichick’s “personal brand outside of his responsibilities for Carolina Football and the University.” This came amid rumors that Hudson had been banned from UNC athletics facilities—a claim the university denied.
“The bottom line, it’s pretty simple to understand,” Finebaum added. “Belichick’s trying to help [Hudson], trying to get her jobs, and she doesn’t seem to be qualified to do anything but get in the way.”
Belichick himself addressed these concerns in a May 13 interview on SportsCenter, asserting that his relationship with Hudson does not interfere with his coaching duties. “It’s a personal relationship and she doesn’t have anything to do with UNC football,” he stated. “I’m excited to be back in the coaches’ meetings and getting ready for June and then August when we get to training camp.”
He emphasized that June would be crucial for recruiting efforts and that preparations for the upcoming season are well underway.
