North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick and his partner Jordon Hudson ended their romantic relationship late last year, according to a report published Friday by TMZ.
The outlet reported that Belichick, 74, and Hudson, 25, called it quits late last year but have remained close friends and stay dedicated to their shared business ventures. People magazine also corroborated the separation, with sources telling both publications that Hudson has begun dating other people.
Hudson was notably absent or not spotted on television broadcasts or sideline photographs Saturday at Kenan Stadium, where Belichick’s Tar Heels fell 38-35 to top-ranked Miami, the New York Post reported.
Public appearances masked split
The timing of the reported breakup caught many college football observers by surprise because the pair continued to make public appearances together well into 2026. Hudson shared a social media image of the two holding hands at the Kentucky Derby on May 2, The Palm Beach Post reported.
Hudson has also continued attending North Carolina games throughout the fall. She appeared on the sidelines for the Tar Heels’ opening matchup against East Tennessee State and traveled for an Oct. 3 game at Notre Dame. Just two weeks ago, she attended North Carolina’s road victory over rival Duke, where she and Belichick were photographed walking off the field together smiling, according to the New York Post.
The reported split even surprised colleagues inside the university’s football department. Two athletic staffers, including a high-ranking employee, told USA TODAY Sports that they had no prior knowledge of the relationship ending.
A high-profile courtship
The couple originally crossed paths in February 2021 aboard a commercial flight from Boston to Florida, when Belichick signed a philosophy textbook Hudson was reading as a college student, Sports Illustrated reported. Their relationship became public in 2024, shortly after Belichick concluded his historic tenure with the New England Patriots.
Their 49-year age difference frequently generated public commentary. The pair attended the American Museum of Natural History gala in late 2024 and the 2025 NFL Honors, where host Snoop Dogg cracked a joke about Belichick’s girlfriend not being born during earlier eras of NFL history.
In April 2025, Hudson drew national headlines during an interview Belichick conducted with Tony Dokoupil for “CBS Sunday Morning.” When the topic turned toward how the couple met, Hudson interrupted from off-camera, stating, “We’re not talking about this.” Belichick subsequently defended her, explaining that she was attempting to keep the discussion focused on his book, “The Art of Winning.” Weeks later, Belichick attended the Miss Maine USA pageant to cheer on Hudson, who finished as the second runner-up, Sports Illustrated reported.
Challenges in Chapel Hill
The news emerges during another eventful stretch for Belichick at North Carolina. After a 4-8 debut campaign in 2025, the program faced turmoil earlier this season. General manager Michael Lombardi stepped down Sept. 3 amid investigations involving alleged misconduct within the program, and defensive coordinator Steve Belichick resigned two weeks later while on medical leave, The Palm Beach Post reported.
Despite the off-field turnover, North Carolina entered Saturday with a 4-3 record, matching its entire 2025 victory total. Against undefeated Miami, the Tar Heels recovered two consecutive onside kicks in the final minutes, but penalties wiped out both plays. Belichick concurred with the officiating, telling reporters, “It’s probably about right.”
Neither Belichick nor Hudson has publicly commented on the reports detailing their separation.
