Bill Belichick is preparing for his first season as the head coach at North Carolina, but it would now officially cost him very little if he were to have a change of heart.
Belichick became the new head coach of the Tar Heels in December. He signed a contract with UNC that will pay him $10 million annually. The deal initially included a $10 million buyout, but that figure was scheduled to drop to $1 million on June 1.
Sunday was June 1, and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that there has been no change to Belichick’s contract. That means the 73-year-old coach could now write a check for $1 million and walk away from UNC.
Belichick’s buyout clause was likely structured to protect UNC in the event that the six-time Super Bowl champion received an unexpected offer to coach an NFL team. The latest NFL hiring cycle has come and gone, so the odds of Belichick returning to the pros this season are incredibly low.
There are now other reasons for UNC fans to be concerned about the $1 million buyout, of course. Belichick has consistently made headlines for his relationship with 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson. Earlier this month, a report claimed Hudson has been banned from UNC’s football facility. UNC officials issued a statement denying the report and said Hudson is welcome at the facility even though she is not a school employee.
Jordon Hudson operates as Belichick’s PR manager
Belichick has essentially confirmed that Hudson handles the business aspect of his career. He has tried to put some distance between his girlfriend and the North Carolina football program, but Hudson’s influence over him has become quite evident.
The spotlight on Belichick’s relationship with Hudson became even brighter last month when Belichick sat down for an interview with Tony Dokoupil of “CBS Mornings.” Hudson sat nearby during the interview and was described by CBS’ narrator as a “constant presence.” She awkwardly interrupted at one point when Belichick was asked about how he and Hudson met (video here).
That interview generated so much attention that Belichick felt the need to issue a statement defending Hudson.
Belichick says Hudson is not involved in football
Though Hudson was spotted on the UNC practice field at one point, Belichick insists the former cheerleader has nothing to do with Tar Heels football.
Some have questioned whether North Carolina officials have pressured Belichick to distance Hudson from the team. That has led to rumblings that there could be legitimate tension between Belichick and the school, but the coach has said he remains all in on his first season as a college coach.
Belichick has already spent a ton of time recruiting at UNC and putting his stamp on the program. There is still very little chance he would walk away before ever coaching a game for the Tar Heels, but the $1 million buyout will continue to create uncertainty in Chapel Hill.
