Ex-Patriots Super Bowl winner urges UNC to cut ties with Bill Belichick amid Jordon Hudson controversy, says "I wonder if he’s fit to coach an NFL team"

With months still to go before his first game as head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, Bill Belichick finds himself at the center of a controversy that's far removed from football strategy. The headlines haven’t focused on Xs and Os—but rather on a media firestorm surrounding his relationship with 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson and what some believe to be a troubling shift in how the legendary coach is perceived, especially in a college setting.

At the heart of the growing scrutiny is former New England Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson, a three-time Super Bowl champion who played under Bill Belichick for five seasons. Now a co-host on WEEI's Three Point Stance, Johnson didn’t mince words during a recent episode as he openly questioned whether Belichick is mentally and emotionally fit to lead a college football program.
“I say all that to say this: that I think the UNC Tar Heels should consider firing Bill Belichick. That they should consider letting him go at this point... I look at Bill Belichick and I wonder if he’s fit to coach an NFL team, let alone fit to coach a college team,” Johnson declared.

The concern, according to Johnson, stems not only from Hudson’s recent behavior but also from Belichick’s apparent willingness to let her influence spill into professional settings. Johnson, emphasizing the higher moral bar expected from college coaches, suggested that Belichick’s recent choices reflect poorly on his ability to mentor young student-athletes.
Johnson's critique follows the widely discussed “CBS Sunday Morning” interview, where Hudson was seen—off camera—shutting down a question about how the couple met. According to TMZ, her interruptions didn’t end there. The report stated that Hudson walked out mid-interview, causing a delay, and repeatedly interrupted Belichick—even during football-related questions—correcting him on-camera.
“To me, those are bad decisions that make him and the university look really bad, and question whether or not he is of sound mind and should be running a football team at the University of North Carolina,” Johnson said.
It’s not just former players raising eyebrows. Inside the halls of Chapel Hill, UNC officials are reportedly uneasy. According to TMZ, Hudson has taken on an informal yet influential role in Belichick’s affairs—so much so that she's been described as "essentially taking on a role as his manager." This has led to growing concern within the university’s leadership about how her presence might affect Belichick’s tenure.
“We’re told folks at UNC are now concerned about Hudson’s influence... especially with her, essentially, taking on a role as his manager,” the report stated.
This concern reportedly played a role in HBO’s decision to pull the plug on featuring the Tar Heels in Hard Knocks. The docuseries was initially set to spotlight the program under Belichick’s leadership, but sources revealed that Hudson’s involvement—particularly her attitude during pre-production—made the collaboration difficult. It has been claimed that she was "instrumental" in the decision for HBO to pivot away.
And just when the drama seemed to reach a boiling point, Hudson added fuel to the fire on Tuesday by sharing an email from Belichick on Instagram that focused on strategies for promoting his upcoming book The Art of Winning. The cryptic post teased a “full statement to be released later today,” though no official statement followed.

Despite the criticism, not everyone agrees with Johnson’s stance. Fellow WEEI host Andy Hart questioned the rush to judgment, noting that Belichick has yet to coach a single game at UNC. But Johnson stood firm, arguing that the optics alone are troubling enough to warrant reconsideration.
“The behaviors with Jordon, that dynamic, her being on the football field, her kind of just, I think, embarrassing Bill... You think Bill doesn’t have any say in how these things go? Of course he does,” Johnson said.
While Belichick may have built a legacy on discipline, preparation, and football IQ, his current situation in Chapel Hill has become less about playbooks and more about perception. With a reported five-year, $50 million contract on the line, North Carolina faces a tough decision. For now, all eyes remain on Belichick—and not for the reasons anyone anticipated.
Also Read: Bill Belichick’s girlfriend Jordon Hudson quietly builds massive $8 million property portfolio at just 24