The University of North Carolina refuted claims that Jordon Hudson, girlfriend of football coach Bill Belichick, had been banned from its football facilities. Despite not being a university or athletics employee, Hudson is allowed access to the Carolina Football facilities to manage activities related to Belichick’s personal brand. This statement came in response to journalist Pablo Torre’s report on his podcast, where he cited sources alleging that Hudson had been prohibited from UNC’s football operations. Torre defended his reporting, criticizing UNC for not addressing Freedom of Information Act requests related to Hudson’s involvement.

Hudson, 24, has been a prominent figure alongside Belichick since his appointment at UNC in December. Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl-winning coach, took over the Tar Heels’ program with a $10 million annual salary, making him the highest-paid public employee in North Carolina. Hudson’s influence on Belichick’s media presence was highlighted during an April interview with CBS Sunday Morning, where she intervened off-camera. Belichick later accused CBS of deviating from the agreed interview focus on football, with Hudson stepping in to refocus the discussion.

Hudson, set to compete in the Miss Maine pageant, and Belichick started dating in 2023 after reportedly meeting in 2021. She has been involved in Belichick’s branding efforts, including partnerships with ESPN and Underdog Fantasy during his coaching hiatus. However, her involvement has sparked scrutiny, with reports suggesting that UNC’s discussions with NFL Films for a Tar Heels feature on Hard Knocks were impacted by Hudson’s influence.