UNC tries to cool Bill Belichick-Jordon Hudson headlines with quiet reset that included Kentucky Derby no-show

North Carolina appears to be tightening its grip on Jordon Hudson’s visibility within the football program as scrutiny surrounding head coach Bill Belichick continues to mount.

According to a report from CBS Sports' Richard Johnson and Brandon Marcello, which surfaced during this week’s ACC spring meetings, UNC officials recently met to discuss efforts to scale back Hudson’s public involvement in Belichick’s official duties. The conversations were reportedly triggered by concerns over the attention drawn from Hudson’s appearance alongside Belichick during a the now infamous CBS News interview.

Those discussions extended to future public outings, including whether Hudson would attend the Kentucky Derby, sources told CBS. Her absence from the ACC meetings in Amelia Island — an event typically attended by the families and partners of coaches — suggested the university is already shifting its approach behind the scenes.

Belichick addressed the situation during a brief interview at the ACC meetings, in a quote that aired on ESPN and was reported by Action Network’s Brett McMurphy.

“It’s off to the side. A personal relationship,” Belichick said. “She doesn’t have anything to do with UNC football. I’m excited to be back in coaches meetings.”

It marked the first time the 73-year-old coach publicly commented on the firestorm surrounding his relationship with the 24-year-old Hudson, a former pageant contestant and reported publicist.

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Though UNC has consistently said Hudson is not a university employee, questions about her influence haven’t gone away. Former ESPN reporter Pablo Torre previously claimed Hudson had been banned from team facilities — a claim later denied by Tar Heel Illustrated, which clarified that while Hudson holds no role with the team, no official ban exists either.

Even with the off-field distractions, the Belichick hire continues to pay dividends for the ACC. Commissioner Jim Phillips told reporters (h/t Brett McMurphy) this week that media interest around the legendary coach has been a major win for the league.

“(ESPN) ran to us, before we could even run to them (about televising more UNC games),” Phillips said. “It’s a great thing for ACC, a great thing for North Carolina, and we are all following the massive coverage that Coach Belichick draws.”

Still, questions remain — particularly with Belichick’s buyout dropping from $10 million to $1 million on June 1. Whether Hudson’s presence remains a lingering issue or UNC seeks a quieter path forward, one thing is clear: the Belichick era in Chapel Hill is under a microscope.

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