Bill Belichick’s 49-years-younger girlfriend Jordon Hudson is becoming something he would never have accepted as New England Patriots head coach – a distraction from football.
That’s according to Julian Edelman, the ex-Patriots wide receiver who won three Super Bowls under the guidance of Belichick in New England.
Already a source of huge scrutiny, the 73-year-old Belichick’s relationship with Hudson, 24, became subjected to intense backlash when she was filmed tensely interrupting a CBS interview stopping him from talking about how they met.
In the aftermath, it was claimed Hudson stormed out of the recording for 30 minutes while her alleged meddling and overall presence meant the iconic ‘Hard Knocks’ canceled plans to film Belichick coaching North Carolina in his hugely anticipated shift to the college game.
‘It is a thing,’ Edelman said of whether the Belichick-Hudson sideshow could be an issue.
‘The No 1 thing we used to talk about all the time in New England was distractions. “Let’s not make distractions”. The game’s already as hard as it is. To prepare for it, to play, to coach.
Bill Belichick’s relationship with Jordon Hudson has been criticized by Julian Edelman
Edelman defended Hudson amid the CBS backlash but sent Belichick a word of warning
‘And regardless of what her role is, Jordon, yeah, I thought he got an unfair public opinion on the whole thing, because that happens all the time.
‘Anytime we do behind-the-scenes this, that, you’ve got someone that represents you, they’re gonna jump in.
‘But now that it’s gained and snowballed to what it’s become right now, where we’re talking about it three weeks later, it’s become a distraction.
‘That’s what we all think now. This is becoming a distraction. We have got to practice as we preach here.
‘We shouldn’t be talking about our girlfriend. And that’s how coach would say it to us. That’s the truth. Let’s make the main thing the main thing.’
According to People, Belichick’s three children – whom he welcomed with ex-wife Debby – have ‘hesitations’ about their dad’s romance with a woman almost 50 years his junior.
A source is quoted as saying that Amanda, 41, Stephen, 38, and Brian, 37 are rooting for their dad despite also holding concerns.
‘His children want the best for their dad but like most family members, they hope this is a good choice for him,’ the insider said.
Edelman said Hudson is a distraction for Belichick ahead of his season with North Carolina
Edelman played his entire NFL career with the Patriots, winning three Super Bowl titles
However, they added that the relationship ‘is real despite the age difference.’
The contentious couple are said to share the ‘same interests’ and they ‘enjoy being together.’
‘He is extremely private and anything she can do to keep that vibe is fine with him. He wants that.’
