The University of North Carolina on Friday denied reports that Jordon Hudson, the girlfriend of head football coach Bill Belichick, has been banned from its football facilities.
“While Jordon Hudson is not an employee at the University or Carolina Athletics, she is welcome to the Carolina Football facilities,” an athletic department spokesperson said in a statement. “Jordon will continue to manage all activities related to Coach Belichick’s personal brand outside of his responsibilities for Carolina Football and the University.”
The statement was released hours after journalist Pablo Torre reported on his podcast that Hudson had been barred from UNC’s football operations. Torre cited 11 sources, including two who claimed Hudson was specifically told she was “no longer allowed in the football building”.
Torre stood by his reporting, posting on X that the information “came from the highest levels of the football program” and criticizing UNC for not fulfilling Freedom of Information Act requests related to Hudson’s involvement. “UNC can now choose to describe or change its position on Jordon Hudson’s involvement however it wishes, following the publication of our episode,” Torre wrote.
P.S. UNC can now choose to describe or change its position on Jordon Hudson’s involvement however it wishes, following the publication of our episode. We requested comment and filed dozens of FOIA requests that were not satisfied. And we stand by the specific reporting in our… https://t.co/O9rZSPW5K3
— Pablo Torre 🕳️ (@PabloTorre) May 9, 2025
Hudson, 24, has been a prominent figure around Belichick since his arrival at UNC last December. The six-time Super Bowl-winning coach, who was fired by the New England Patriots following a 4-13 season in 2023, took over the Tar Heels’ program on a $10m annual salary, making him the highest-paid public employee in North Carolina.
Hudson’s influence on Belichick’s media presence became a flashpoint during an April interview with CBS Sunday Morning. While promoting his new book, The Art of Winning, Belichick was asked about how he and Hudson met. Hudson, off-camera, interjected, saying, “We’re not talking about that.”
Belichick later accused CBS of breaking an agreement to keep the interview focused on football, stating, “Unfortunately, that expectation was not honored during the interview.” He defended Hudson’s intervention, saying she “stepped in to help refocus the discussion”.
Hudson is scheduled to compete in the Miss Maine pageant this weekend. She and Belichick began dating in 2023 after reportedly meeting on a flight to Palm Beach in 2021. Hudson has since played a role in Belichick’s branding efforts, including stints with ESPN and Underdog Fantasy during his year away from coaching.
Her involvement has drawn scrutiny at UNC and beyond. Last month, the university reportedly ended discussions with NFL Films about featuring the Tar Heels on Hard Knocks, with sources indicating Hudson’s influence was a factor.
