The University of North Carolina made waves by hiring NFL legend Bill Belichick to helm its football team, but ESPN’s Paul Finebaum seems more rattled by the headlines around the coach’s personal life than his on-field impact. True to his candid style, Finebaum, 69, shared his thoughts on ESPN’s Get Up, advising Belichick to keep his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, under wraps. “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 said on the June 4 episode. Since UNC’s off-season decision to recruit Belichick, 73, his romance with Hudson, 24, has stirred more attention than his moves with the Tar Heels roster.
“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, he separated from the greatest quarterback of all time it’s time for Bill Belichick to fire his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson,” Finebaum continued, adding, “Listen, I’m happy for them, but North Carolina hired him because he’s a great coach, not to be a distraction. He’s a major distraction right now in this game of football. I’m sorry.”
The buzz peaked in April when Belichick appeared on CBS Sunday Morning to plug his book, The Art of Winning: Lessons From My Life in Football. Interrogated about his relationship by journalist Tony Dokoupil, Hudson intervened, “We’re not talking about this,” she replied.
In May, North Carolina Athletics informed Us Weekly that Hudson oversees Belichick’s “personal brand outside of his responsibilities for Carolina Football and the University.” This, amidst rumors of Hudson’s alleged prohibition from UNC’s athletic facilities, which the institution later refuted.
“It’s quite simple,” Finebaum wrapped up. “Belichick’s evidently 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 tried to quash the drama in a May 13 chat with SportsCenter, maintaining that his relationship with Hudson has no bearing on his football tasks. “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. June will be a big recruiting month for us, and then August, we’ll start getting ready for the season.”
