Bill Belichick’s former employer is impacting his business relationship with girlfriend Jordon Hudson at a time when the North Carolina head football coach has banned New England Patriots scouts from watching his Tar Heels.
The 73-year-old coach and 24-year-old ex-college cheerleader recently filed for a number of trademarks through TCE Rights Management, an LLC owned by Belichick and managed by Hudson. Those applications included the phrases: ‘Do Your Job (Bill’s Version),’ ‘Ignore the Noise (Bill’s Version),’ ‘The Belestrator (Bill’s Version)’ and ‘No Days Off (Bill’s Version).’
Unfortunately for Belichick and Hudson, the Patriots previously trademarked similar phrases in 2009, 2013 and 2017, when he was still coaching in Foxborough.
As a result, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has rejected those four applications, writing in an official decision last week that ‘it is likely consumers would be confused, mistaken or deceived as to the commercial source of the goods and/or services of the parties.’
There is good news for Belichick and Hudson: The couple’s curious attempt to trademark ‘Gold Digger’ for jewellery and key chains remains pending, as do a number of other applications, such as ‘Chapel Bill (Bill’s Version)’ and ‘The Dynasty (Bill’s Version).’
The reference to ‘Bill’s version’ is a nod to an apparel slogan that was popularized after Taylor Swift began dating Chiefs star Travis Kelce in 2023. The t-shirts and sweatshirts feature a logo, similar to the NFL’s, with ‘Taylor’s Version’ written inside the crest.
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick watches from the sidelines during Saturday’s win
Jordon Hudson (R) and friend watch Belichick’s Tar Heels in action against Charlotte
Belichick earned his first win as North Carolina head coach on Saturday in Chapel Hill, where he’s banned Patriots scouts nearly two years after his breakup with owner Robert Kraft.
‘Well it’s clear that I’m not welcome around their facility,’ Belichick said. ‘So, they’re not welcome at ours. It’s pretty simple.’
The exact issue between Belichick and the Patriots remains unclear. His son Brian remained on then-Patriots coach Jerod Mayo’s staff last year as an assistant in charge of the safeties, but has now joined his dad with North Carolina since Mike Vrabel took over on the New England sideline.
Speaking with the Boston Globe last month, Belichick took an apparent dig at Kraft and his sons, several of whom have been involved with the team over the years.
Asked about the advantages of moving to college football, Belichick said: ‘There’s no owner, there’s no owner’s son, there’s no cap, everything that goes with the marketing and everything else, which I’m all for that.’
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected four of Belichick and Hudson’s applications
Bill Belichick (R) and Patriots owner Robert Kraft speak to reporters after Belichick’s exit
Belichick also derided the growing front offices of league franchises.
‘Generic NFL teams, you have the owner, president, general manager, personnel director, college director, pro director, cap guy, some other consultant, then head coach,’ Belichick told the Globe. ‘I’d say when we had our best years in New England, we had fewer people and more of a direct vision. And as that expanded, it became harder to be successful.’
Belichick won six Super Bowls as head coach of the Patriots with the help of his long-time quarterback, Tom Brady, and an owner that largely left him alone to focus on football.
But, after failing to reach the playoffs in three of his final four seasons in New England, Belichick split with Kraft, who later claimed to have ‘fired’ his long-time coach.
Belichick’s Tar Heels are now 1-1 heading into Saturday’s matchup with visiting Richmond. Meanwhile, Kraft’s Patriots are 0-1 heading into Sunday’s meeting with the Dolphins in Miami.
