Bill Belichick and North Carolina have an easy way out of their troubled relationship.
And the date to keep an eye on is coming soon.
On June 1, the legendary football coach’s buyout clause will drop from $10 million to $1 million, giving him an out from the top job in Chapel Hill and a much more palatable payment to the university should he bail on the Tar Heels.
The buyout was originally seen as a potential path for Belichick, who is on a five-year, $50 million contract with UNC, to return to the NFL after striking out during the last two hiring cycles.
But with all the drama surrounding Belichick and his 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson, the 73-year-old coach may decide the job is more trouble than it’s worth.
The couple has been in the middle of a media firestorm since a viral video showed Hudson on the field with Belichick at a UNC practice last month.
Shortly after she was spotted on the field during a spring practice, Belichick and Hudson came further under the microscope after his disastrous “CBS Sunday Morning” interview, in which she interrupted it multiple times and stopped the coach from answering a question about how the couple met.
Earlier this month, Page Six reported that Hudson allegedly “forced” her way into a Dunkin’ Donuts commercial with Belichick, which aired during Super Bowl 2025.
Then this week, Pablo Torre reported that Hudson bombarded an Underdog Fantasy commercial set, making the crew film a version that featured her in a ʙικιɴι by the pool with Belichick.
Torre alleged that Hudson had been banned from Tar Heels practices, although UNC’s athletics department released a statement disputing the claim.
“While Jordon Hudson is not an employee at the University or Carolina Athletics, she is welcome to the Carolina Football facilities,” the school said. “Jordon will continue to manage all activities related to Coach Belichick’s personal brand outside of his responsibilities for Carolina Football and the University.”
He also said Belichick’s family is said to be “extraordinarily concerned” in matters regarding Hudson and “digging into” her as the feel she could be detrimental to his legacy.
In late April, TMZ reported that UNC officials were “concerned” about Hudson’s influence and there was a “growing sense this could become a problem.”
Former Patriot Ted Johnson said North Carolina should consider firing Belichick amid the saga.
