As Bill Belichick prepares to begin a new chapter with the University of North Carolina football team, the spotlight on his off-field life has started to eclipse his coaching narrative — and Rob Gronkowski has had enough.
Rob Gronkowski tells Bill Belichick how to silence critics questioning his romance with Jordon Hudson
On the red carpet at the YouTube Brandcast upfront, Rob Gronkowski, the former Patriots tight end didn’t mince words when asked about the media frenzy surrounding Belichick and his 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson. “Bill has to produce and I'm going to be tuning in and I want to see him win some games,” Gronkowski told PEOPLE. “Because if he wins some games, he'll shut everyone up. And that would be fun to see, man.”
Belichick, now 73, has pivoted from decades of NFL dominance to take on the challenge of coaching at the collegiate level — a move that many expected would place him back under the football spotlight. Instead, the conversation has been hijacked by curiosity over his relationship with Hudson, a former cheerleader and pageant contestant.
Just last weekend, Belichick was spotted supporting Hudson at the Miss Maine USA competition, where she earned the second runner-up spot. Their hand-in-hand exit reignited chatter, and two days later, an interview intended to be about football once again got sidetracked. During a CBS Sunday Morning segment, Hudson interrupted to steer the conversation away when Belichick was questioned about how they met — a move that added more fuel to the ongoing narrative.
But Belichick isn’t letting the gossip derail his professional intentions. Speaking to ESPN, he emphasized that Hudson “doesn’t have anything to do with UNC football,” keeping their relationship separate from his coaching responsibilities. Bubba Cunningham, UNC’s athletic director, echoed this sentiment, brushing off rumors that Hudson had been banned from athletic facilities. “Bill's been great to work with,” Cunningham said. “He runs a professional organization that is teaching students how to be professional in all aspects of their life.”
As the noise continues, Gronkowski, who once jokingly referred to Hudson’s age by saying “Coach Belichick’s girlfriend wasn’t a twinkle in her father’s eye” during a Fox event, seems ready to refocus. Though he initially defended the couple on his Dudes on Dudes podcast, he later admitted the relationship felt like “a distraction.”
Now, however, Gronk appears to have come full circle — not to comment on the personal, but to double down on Belichick’s legacy as a coach. “That's what he's always done in his career and he's the best football coach out there,” Gronkowski told PEOPLE. “He knows the game inside and out better than anyone, so we're just super excited to see what he can do on the field. Now I'm kind of getting sick of all the BS off the field. I want to see how it's going to go down on the field now in the ACC.”
With the upcoming season fast approaching, the former NFL coach has an opportunity to rewrite the headlines — and if Gronk’s right, it’s wins, not whispers, that will ultimately define his tenure in Chapel Hill.
Also Read: Indianapolis Colts issue apology to Tyreek Hill after fans slam insensitive schedule release video
Rob Gronkowski tells Bill Belichick how to silence critics questioning his romance with Jordon Hudson
On the red carpet at the YouTube Brandcast upfront, Rob Gronkowski, the former Patriots tight end didn’t mince words when asked about the media frenzy surrounding Belichick and his 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson. “Bill has to produce and I'm going to be tuning in and I want to see him win some games,” Gronkowski told PEOPLE. “Because if he wins some games, he'll shut everyone up. And that would be fun to see, man.”
Rob Gronkowski Suggests How Bill Belichick Can ‘Shut Everyone Up’ About Jordon Hudson Relationship (Exclusive) https://t.co/F8UFtnSjLS
— People (@people) May 15, 2025
Belichick, now 73, has pivoted from decades of NFL dominance to take on the challenge of coaching at the collegiate level — a move that many expected would place him back under the football spotlight. Instead, the conversation has been hijacked by curiosity over his relationship with Hudson, a former cheerleader and pageant contestant.
Just last weekend, Belichick was spotted supporting Hudson at the Miss Maine USA competition, where she earned the second runner-up spot. Their hand-in-hand exit reignited chatter, and two days later, an interview intended to be about football once again got sidetracked. During a CBS Sunday Morning segment, Hudson interrupted to steer the conversation away when Belichick was questioned about how they met — a move that added more fuel to the ongoing narrative.
But Belichick isn’t letting the gossip derail his professional intentions. Speaking to ESPN, he emphasized that Hudson “doesn’t have anything to do with UNC football,” keeping their relationship separate from his coaching responsibilities. Bubba Cunningham, UNC’s athletic director, echoed this sentiment, brushing off rumors that Hudson had been banned from athletic facilities. “Bill's been great to work with,” Cunningham said. “He runs a professional organization that is teaching students how to be professional in all aspects of their life.”
As the noise continues, Gronkowski, who once jokingly referred to Hudson’s age by saying “Coach Belichick’s girlfriend wasn’t a twinkle in her father’s eye” during a Fox event, seems ready to refocus. Though he initially defended the couple on his Dudes on Dudes podcast, he later admitted the relationship felt like “a distraction.”
Now, however, Gronk appears to have come full circle — not to comment on the personal, but to double down on Belichick’s legacy as a coach. “That's what he's always done in his career and he's the best football coach out there,” Gronkowski told PEOPLE. “He knows the game inside and out better than anyone, so we're just super excited to see what he can do on the field. Now I'm kind of getting sick of all the BS off the field. I want to see how it's going to go down on the field now in the ACC.”
With the upcoming season fast approaching, the former NFL coach has an opportunity to rewrite the headlines — and if Gronk’s right, it’s wins, not whispers, that will ultimately define his tenure in Chapel Hill.
Also Read: Indianapolis Colts issue apology to Tyreek Hill after fans slam insensitive schedule release video
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