Legendary football coach Bill Belichick was seen over the weekend taking time away from his duties with the University of North Carolina to support his much younger girlfriend at a cheerleading event.
A Weekend of Support in Atlanta
According to photos obtained by TMZ, the 73-year-old Belichick attended a cheer competition in Atlanta to watch his 24-year-old partner, Jordon Hudson, perform. Hudson was competing with the Code Black squad, part of the Cheer Extreme All-Stars organization.
Images show Belichick dressed casually in a button-down shirt, jeans, and a Navy submarine cap. Hudson wore a sparkly black top and a short black skirt for the event. The coach appeared to be in good spirits, smiling as he watched the performance.
Not the First Cheerleading Outing
This marks at least the second time in recent weeks that the former New England Patriots head coach has been publicly seen at one of Hudson's events. In November, he was photographed in Raleigh, North Carolina, wearing his signature grey hoodie while watching Hudson compete in a Cheer Extreme All Stars exhibition.
Hudson, a former cheerleader at Bridgewater State University, has been in a relationship with Belichick for over a year. She shared a clip of her team's weekend performance on her Instagram account on Sunday.
Off-Field Distractions and a Tough Season
The personal outing comes on the heels of a challenging first season for Belichick at the helm of the UNC Tar Heels football program. The team finished the year with a disappointing 4-8 record, placing near the bottom of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
Belichick's relationship with Hudson has been a consistent source of off-field headlines and potential distractions. Most recently, Hudson appeared to threaten legal action against journalist Pablo Torre in a social media post.
On November 23, Hudson posted a photo on Instagram of herself wearing a UNC all-access pass with a message directed at the former ESPN personality. "P.S. I'm suing you @pstorre," she wrote, tagging Torre's account. Torre has published numerous reports over the past year delving into the couple's relationship. No formal legal proceedings have been reported.
Belichick Brushes Off the Drama
Prior to UNC's final game of the season—a 42-19 loss to South Carolina—Belichick was asked by a reporter about the potential distractions caused by the media coverage of his personal life.
The reporter specifically cited the New York Post story before the Duke game and the recent news of Hudson's possible lawsuit against Pablo Torre. "How much do those distractions seep down into the team?" the reporter asked.
In a response typical of the notoriously tight-lipped coach, Belichick refused to engage. "Yeah, I'm just focused on the game, that's what our team is focused on," he stated, offering no further details.
As Belichick heads into the offseason looking to rebuild the Tar Heels' football fortunes, his high-profile relationship with Jordon Hudson continues to capture public attention, ensuring that the spotlight remains on both his professional and personal life.
