Anyone hoping to get more answers from North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick about Jordon Hudson during his “Good Morning America” interview was left wanting.
Belichick appeared on the nationally televised show Friday morning. He spoke to Michael Strahan, former New York Giants defensive end and Super Bowl champion, mostly about his book, “The Art of Winning,” his NFL career, and the transition to college football.
Strahan asked about Hudson, who was not present, at the end of the interview. Belichick, however, maintained that Hudson has a personal and professional role in his life outside of UNC.
“I know that a lot has been made of the professional life, but also of your personal life, because it spilled over into your professional life in a lot of ways,” Strahan said. “A lot has been made about your relationship with Jordon Hudson, it’s been getting a lot of attention. She isn’t here this morning, but what do you think about all the attention that your relationship has been getting?”
“She’s been terrific through the whole process, and she’s been very helpful to me. She does the business things that don’t relate to North Carolina that come up in my life, so I can concentrate on football,” Belichick responded. “That’s really what I want to do. I acknowledged her in the book. She was very helpful on that with the tribute pages, and also given a perspective of the book from a business side. Sometimes I get a little football technical, so she did a good job of keeping me on balance there.” (Belichick references Hudson in the book, calling her his “idea mill and creative muse.”)
Strahan followed up by asking what Hudson means to Belichick. The coach said the two have a “good personal relationship” but declined to comment further. Strahan asked if he was happy, to which Belichick said, “yeah.”
The interview comes after weeks of scrutiny and just days after wrapping up ACC spring meetings, where he tried to focus on learning about the ACC and college football. He described the relationship, however, on ESPN SportsCenter as, “really off to the side. It’s a personal relationship and it doesn’t have anything to do with UNC.”
Jordon Hudson, girlfriend of UNC football coach Bill Belichick (left, in dark blue parka) on the field during UNC football’s Practice Like a Pro open practice at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, April 12, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Belichick on Carolina football
Belichick spent most of the interview discussing his coaching career, including anecdotes about Tom Brady and how he used to handle practice. He also discussed the transition to coaching college football — something he has never done.
UNC hired Belichick in December after firing Mack Brown. Belichick’s hire came with much fanfare and mixed opinions, according to documents obtained by the News & Observer. Belichick talked again about growing up around college football primarily at the Naval Academy, but his father previously served as an assistant coach for the Tar Heels from 1953-55.
“I learned a lot from watching them. I’ve always kind of tried to make my team look like those teams; the kind of teamwork, camaraderie, communication, toughness and resilience that those guys had,” Belichick said Friday, referring to Navy’s teams in the early 1960s. “Of course, those are the days where you had two way players, so you only had half as much practice time. The efficiency that the coaches had in practice to get a full practice in offense, defense and the kicking game with the same guys was pretty good. I learned a lot there, so it’s great to be in college working with young kids.”
Belichick said he hasn’t needed to make many adjustments to how he coaches. He said Carolina players are “so eager, they’re hungry, they have dreams, they want to be good.” It’s his job to help them achieve those goals and be a good team.
The staff is working to help players develop habits of great players while working on their athletic skills.
“It’s great to work with them,” Belichick said. “They’ve been very enthusiastic, and we’ve made a lot of progress. Got a long way to go, of course.”
Belichick, similar to his statements at the ACC meetings, is emphasizing learning while in the transition period. He is stepping into the sport during a time of change and uncertainty, even for the most seasoned college coaches, with NIL, the impending House settlement and unknown roster sizes.
He credited his staff and General Manager Michael Lombardi for assisting in the reacclimation process.
“I learn every day, and I’ve learned so much being back in the college environment with whether it be recruiting, the college game, the rules, the hash marks, some strategy, or just putting a team together,” Belichick said.
Carolina’s season opener is scheduled for 8 p.m. Sept. 1 against TCU.
North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick watches play during UNC footballÕs Practice Like a Pro open practice at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, April 12, 2025. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Background on Bill Belichick, Jordon Hudson
Belichick and Hudson have received national attention, both in sports and entertainment news, for their 49-year age gap, Hudson’s unconventional role and the viral clip of her intervening during a CBS Sunday Morning interview.
Last week, a report from sports podcaster Pablo Torre stated Hudson was banned from Carolina football facilities, including the sideline. UNC refuted the report shortly after its publication.
Hudson is neither an employee of the university nor a contracted vendor, which the athletic department confirmed last month. The university said last week, however, she is involved in non-UNC aspects of Belichick’s career.
“While Jordon Hudson is not an employee at the university or Carolina athletics, she is welcome to the Carolina football facilities,” the statement read. “Jordon will continue to manage all activities related to coach Belichick’s personal brand outside of his responsibilities for Carolina football and the university.”
UNC refused in April to answer questions about Hudson’s role, including if it has at any time discussed procedures to ensure harmony between UNC and non-UNC activities; and if the university has discussed when its interests and authority take precedence since Belichick is an employee of a state institution.
“Jordon is not employed by the university,” a spokesperson said in an email on Wednesday morning. “We are not going to comment on Coach Belichick’s personal business.”
Belichick previously requested UNC staff to copy Hudson on all emails sent to him. Records also showed Hudson instructing the university on how it should announce staff hires, particularly those about Belichick’s sons, who were hired as assistants.
Hudson was seen putting a microphone on Belichick ahead of UNC’s public spring football practice and intervening during Belichick’s CBS interview in April.
Belichick and Hudson met on Feb. 11, 2021, on a flight to Florida, according to Hudson’s Instagram. Hudson, who recently turned 24, was 19 at the time. Belichick, who turned 73 last month, was 68 when they met.
