Is Jordon Hudson a distraction? Bill Belichick's UNC boss avoids questions as firing buzz grows louder

As Bill Belichick settles into his new role as head coach at the University of North Carolina, his personal life continues to generate headlines. But inside the UNC football program, athletic director Bubba Cunningham insists the focus remains squarely on the field. Despite the media frenzy surrounding Belichick’s relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson , Cunningham made it clear that the legendary coach’s professionalism has not wavered—and that Hudson is not a distraction.

Bill Belichick’s UNC chapter starts with controversy as boss avoids questions on Jordon Hudson

In a recent interview with ESPN, Cunningham firmly pushed back against reports that Jordon Hudson had been banned from UNC athletics, a claim initially made by Pablo Torre. Instead, he turned the spotlight to Belichick’s leadership. “Bill’s been great to work with,” Cunningham said. “He talked about practicing like a pro and he runs a professional organization that is teaching students how to be professional in all aspects of their life. He is a very determined, professional individual, and that’s the way he carries himself and the way he conducts the program.”

UNC AD Bubba Cunningham on Belichick: "Bill's been great to work with, and everything relative to football is what we talk about. All the other stuff is for him."

Distraction? "He's been great to work with."

"Bill's been great to work with. He's a celebrity figure. And he's…

— Brian Murphy (@murphsturph) May 13, 2025

When asked whether he was concerned about off-field noise impacting the team, Cunningham didn’t blink. “Bill is an incredibly focused person,” he said.

Belichick himself addressed the swirling speculation during a Tuesday appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter, marking his first televised interview since Hudson’s viral interruption during his CBS Sunday Morning appearance in late April. The moment fueled ongoing speculation that Hudson may be influencing Belichick’s career. But the coach was clear: “That’s really off to the side, it’s a personal relationship,” he said. “She doesn’t have anything to do with UNC football.”

The 73-year-old former Patriots coach added that he had already addressed the situation with his players and reinforced his commitment to building a focused, distraction-free culture. “I talked to the players when we meet with them,” Belichick explained. “We want to make the players the best they can be and giving them the best opportunity on and off the field.”

For Belichick, the transition from NFL powerhouse to college program is about setting a standard—not chasing headlines. He emphasized his vision of molding UNC into a program that mirrors the professionalism of the NFL, even calling it the “33rd NFL team.”

Still, he isn’t rushing to set hard expectations. “Try to stack good days together,” Belichick said. “Good day, come back, build higher the next day. It’s not about where we’re going to be X-number of months or weeks from now.”

While social media buzzes over Hudson’s recent appearances—including her bid for Miss Maine USA, where Belichick was seen in the front row—UNC leadership is keeping its eyes on the bigger picture. With the fall season approaching, Belichick’s focus, much like his reputation, remains unshaken.

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