Could Bill Belichick Go Without Coaching UNC? Rumor Validates Possibility

Bill Belichick has abandoned the “Patriot Way” and left it in Foxborough for Mike Vrabel to dust off and repair, all while struggling to compose himself, now as the face of North Carolina’s football program.

But now, Belichick has gone from a name once synonymous with discipline, dedication and all the ingredients behind a top-notch operation, to a has-been in the midst of a hard-to-watch identity crisis. Every time Belichick’s name — or face — pops up, right next to him is Jordon Hudson, Belichick’s 24-year-old girlfriend and hands-on PR representative.

Hudson has been spotted sporting Tar Heel blue, walking around North Carolina’s facilities. She’s made a cameo appearance in Belichick’s cameo appearance for a Dunkin’ Super Bowl commercial, and Hudson reportedly even played an instrumental role behind the failed negotiations between North Carolina and HBO’s “Hard Knocks” series.

Throughout it all, the Belichick-Hudson saga has compromised the eight-time Super Bowl champion’s legacy and reportedly threatens Belichick’s standing with the university before its Week 1 matchup against TCU on Sept. 1.

“Absolutely (it does),” journalist Pablo Torre told “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz” on Monday. “June 1, man. Look at that contract. Right before all of this. June 1. The buyout from the Belichick side of things drops from $10 million to 10 times less, to $1 million. And the theory was that’s because he wanted an out if the NFL came sniffing around, and said, ‘Oh, I would love to have Bill Belichick.’ I can tell the NFL has no desire to get into business with Bill Belichick, especially not right now. Then the question remains, does Bill want to remain there if his bosses are actually saying, ‘Look, man, you can’t operate this way. You can’t embarrass our school this way.’ In which case, he might not feel like he’s in charge anymore.”

Belichick had no problem amassing control during his 29-year reign of NFL greatness, but that’s been relinquished. Belichick’s firing from the Patriots after running the franchise into irrelevancy following Tom Brady’s departure after the 2019 season has removed Belichick from his element. He’s no longer leading by example, and while his personal life is nobody’s concern or business, Belichick is doing everything to make himself a liability by making his love life the only version of himself the public affiliates with North Carolina.

The discourse surrounding Belichick and the Tar Heels is less about football and more about Belichick’s relationship with Hudson or what viral moment/picture has surfaced on social media. It’s a complete 180 from what Belichick spent nearly three decades building himself. to be, and instead of a legendary football coach, he’s become more of a Kardashian-like figure to critique, watch and commentate on.

Everyone from Belichick’s family members to Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley has added their two cents on the matter.

“From what I’m hearing, it’s starting to be a very slippery slope,” Barkley told the “Dan Patrick Show” in April. “And I never talk about people’s personal relationships. That’s another rule I got, but I will admit I’m a little concerned with some of the stuff that’s going on, and I might actually reach out to him to make sure everything’s good. But I am concerned from what I’m hearing because it’s not a good look right now. I’ll admit that.”

Belichick originally joined North Carolina four months ago in December, which has felt like a lifetime ago. With each step Belichick takes in Chapel Hill, we’re reminded of why organizations in the NFL declined to take him in free agency. Belichick didn’t turn to college football out of some sudden interest in making a difference to the NFL stars of tomorrow. He didn’t have a choice.

North Carolina, on the other hand, does. It’ll ultimately be up to the university to determine how tight Belichick’s leash is moving forward.