One of Bill Belichick’s closest allies is reportedly ‘deeply concerned’ about Jordon Hudson’s involvement in the UNC football program.
Hudson, Belichick’s 24-year-old girlfriend who has firmly embedded herself in his professional life, was reportedly banned from UNC’s football facilities – as Pablo Torre claimed last month.
UNC refuted Torre’s report, though said Hudson would ‘continue to manage all activities related to Coach Belichick’s personal brand’ outside of the school.
And while Torre has already said that the legendary coach’s family was ‘digging into’ Hudson, his UNC GM and longtime friend Michael Lombardi is also apparently worried about her presence.
‘What if I told you that [Belichick’s] inner circle of actual coaches on staff, including a certain Mike Lombardi, is deeply concerned about Jordon Hudson and her presence in the building?,’ Torre said on the latest episode Bill Simmons Podcast.
Lombardi, a longtime football executive and analyst, previously worked under Simmons at The Ringer, and served as an assistant to Belichick’s New England coaching staff from 2014-16.
Belichick, 73, has been facing scrutiny over his romance with 24-year-old Hudson
And his ally Michael Lombardi is reportedly among those concerned about her involvement in UNC’s program
Hudson went viral in April when she continuously interrupted Belichick’s CBS interview
Torre wondered aloud whether Simmons may have spoken with him Lombardi recently, but Simmons declined to divulge any information.
While Belichick and Hudson’s relationship became public last year, the scrutiny around it has reached a fever pitch since she was seen inserting herself into his CBS Sunday Morning Interview.
Interviewer Tony Dokoupil described her as a ‘constant presence’ throughout the session, in which CBS cameras captured her vetoing a question about how she and Belichick met.
An email publicized by The Assembly also provided insight into her influence in Belichick’s professional life, as the coach had asked for her to be copied on all emails sent to him by UNC staffers.
It also emerged via several reports that her desire to be involved in the iconic HBO ‘Hard Knocks’ series curtailed the cameras’ involvement in Belichick’s work at the school.
All of that led Belichick’s family to reportedly grow worried about the ex-Patriots coach’s relationship with Hudson, as Torre reported the coach’s loved ones were ‘digging into’ her amid fears she could tear down ‘everything he’s built,’ citing an unnamed source.
Belichick, won six Super Bowls in New England as head coach, signed a five-year, $50million contract with UNC.
And Daily Mail exclusively reported in April that Hudson had quietly amassed a $9million real estate portfolio.
Torre’s appearance on Simmons’ show came as the Ringer founder and Spotify executive ripped into the former’s reporting of the Belichick and Hudson saga.
Lombardi and Hudson are seen taking in a Bulls-Nuggets NBA game on January 27
Pablo Torre said that some in Belichick’s inner circle were ‘deeply concerned’ about Hudson
‘I’ve never seen anybody dine on a stupider story for a week and a half while pretending you’re a journalist,’ he said on a recent episode of his ‘The Rewatchables’ podcast. ‘What the f*** was that? Seriously.’
The die-hard Patriots fan also said: ‘Belichick’s dating a girl. ‘Oh, let me do nine shows about it,” Simmons, a Boston native, said, mocking Torre. ‘Settle the f–k down … You don’t need to do a media tour about a f***ing podcast.’
Torre responded on social media, challenging Simmons to have a conversation with him – which they ultimately did as they hashed things on on the latter’s eponymous podcast.
While UNC have maintained that Hudson is not banned from their facilities – a rebuttal to Torre’s original reporting which he refuted again – there has been a change to the school’s communications staff.
The school recently hired former Bears PR Director Brandon Faber amid the negative press it was receiving, and he was seen accompanying Belichick as he left an interview with Good Morning America.
