UNC Football Players Share Thoughts on Bill Belichick's Relationship
University of North Carolina football players expressed their views on head coach Bill Belichick's relationship with Jordon Hudson, a topic that has garnered significant attention since they made their romance public in October 2024.
During ACC Media Days on July 24, players were asked about the 73-year-old coach and his 23-year-old girlfriend. Sophomore wide receiver Jordan Shipp addressed the situation directly, stating, “Social media can promote some narrative, but that was not a distraction to us at all. There was never a problem, like people saying she was running practice. We’d never really see her in the building. That was never a problem.”
Shipp also mentioned his past breakfast meetings with Sally Brown, the wife of former head coach Mack Brown, prompting Belichick to interject and clarify any misconceptions regarding Hudson's involvement with the team. “I don’t think Jordon’s had lunch with anybody,” he remarked.
Quarterback Gio Lopez acknowledged the buzz surrounding Belichick’s personal life but emphasized that it hasn’t interfered with their football routines. “I log on my phone and see something about Coach Belichick, so it is different, of course,” Lopez noted. “But you’d never think that about him. He’s a normal guy, a normal coach. That’s how he carries himself. He’s very personable, not worried about the spotlight. He just does his job.”
Belichick himself addressed the media's fascination with his private life, referring to it as “noise.” He commented, “Sometimes it’s noisy and sometimes it isn’t. Sometimes with the Patriots it was noisy, too.”
Since taking over as head coach at UNC in December 2024 after a long tenure with the New England Patriots, where he won six Super Bowls, Belichick has faced scrutiny regarding Hudson's role in his professional life.
In May, journalist Pablo Torre reported on his podcast that Hudson had been banned from the university’s football facilities. A source allegedly told Torre, “I don’t think you’ll be hearing much from Jordon moving forward.”
Following this report, Carolina Athletics issued a statement denying the claims. “While Jordon Hudson is not an employee at the University or Carolina Athletics, she is welcome to the Carolina Football facilities,” the statement read on May 9. “Jordon will continue to manage all activities related to Coach Belichick’s personal brand outside of his responsibilities for Carolina Football and the University.”
