On a Thursday evening in February, just after 10:30 p.m., a couple strolled through the lively courtyard of Pat O’Brien’s, navigating their way among the crowded tables at one of New Orleans’s most cherished establishments.

Bill Belichick, dressed in a maroon blazer paired with dark trousers, was alongside Jordon Hudson, whose silver dress shimmered under the glow of neon lights. The pair had just come from a red carpet affair and now found themselves settled in a cozy corner, ordering drinks.

With the much-anticipated Super Bowl LIX set to kick off in the city within days, the bar was already a popular haunt for fans of the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, eager to soak up the pre-game buzz on Bourbon Street.

As curious patrons strained to catch a glimpse of the notable duo, the Daily Mail found themselves seated a mere few tables away, observing the scene unfold.

Their entourage made it clear: no questions would be entertained. So, like everyone else in the bar that night, we were left pondering the intriguing question: what exactly is unfolding here?

It is a question that has dogged the couple since June 2024, when it was first confirmed that arguably the greatest coach in NFL history, now aged 73, was dating a 24-year-old former cheerleader.

Belichick is used to the spotlight, of course. His career began in 1975 and he knows that curious things can happen in Super Bowl week. For many years, though, Belichick spent Thursdays like these in team meetings and final practices.

No one has won more than his eight Super Bowls, including a record six as head coach of the New England Patriots. He spent 24 seasons in that role and, alongside quarterback Tom Brady, built a dynasty that ruled the NFL in the early 21st century.

Now, though, those Vince Lombardi Trophies seem like relics of another age. And this version of Bill Belichick is stalked by accusations that he got the big calls wrong. Namely, his choice of partner and his recent decision to coach a team at the University of North Carolina. 

It’s been a ‘sad demise,’ said one source, who compared it to ‘a Shakespearean tragedy.’

In December 2024, Belichick signed a five-year, $50million deal with the North Carolina Tar Heels. It was his first coaching job outside the NFL and it was hailed by ESPN as ‘one of the most stunning and compelling moves in college football history.’ 

It soon turned into a circus. 

Belichick was accused of overseeing a ‘a toxic environment,’ an ‘unstructured mess,’ a ‘complete disaster.’ One of his coaches was suspended for violating NCAA rules and WRAL claimed the 73-year-old’s tenure was beset by talk of a locker room divided over preferential treatment. 

Then, on Thanksgiving weekend this year, the Tar Heels were crushed 42-19 by rivals NC State Wolfpack. It was a miserable end to a miserable season that included five double-digit losses and just four wins for Belichick’s boys.

The verdict of one local columnist on Belichick? ‘A dismal failure, a multi-million dollar mistake’ that made ‘laughingstocks of himself and the university… the only option here is to cut out the cancer before it spreads.’

Somehow, though, the on-field humiliation has proved to be a mere sideshow compared to the turmoil off it. 

Hudson was at the center of most troubling headlines. Like many Gen Zers, she has documented many of the couple’s lighter moments on social media, including a bizarre beach photoshoot which saw Belichick dressed as a fisherman reeling in his ‘catch’.

But she’s had her serious moments, too. 

The 24-year-old has been routinely spotted at practice and on the sidelines in Chapel Hill. (Belichick has returned the favor by supporting her at a Miss Maine USA pageant and an adult cheerleading meet.)

And then there were the explosive reports about her apparent influence over the septuagenarian and his family’s ‘deep worry’ over ‘how detrimental Jordon can be for not just North Carolina but Bill’s legacy, reputation — everything he has built and worked for over decades.’ 

Some believe that damage is now done.

‘He has pretty much thrown away a stellar career record for a former cheerleader 49 years his junior,’ a source said. ‘That must hurt, no matter how he reflects on what’s happened and how much he’s besotted with her.’

The levees finally broke last month, when Belichick’s daughter-in-law reportedly savaged Hudson, in a foul-mouthed, 40-minute rant in front of the NFL legend.

Jen Belichick — who is married to Bill’s son and Tar Heels defensive coordinator, Steve — is said to have exploded at the 24-year-old after a game, branding Hudson ‘bats*** crazy’ and accusing her of ‘f***ing twisting’ the brain of her older boyfriend. She also screamed that all Hudson ‘does is control s***,’ the New York Post reported.

The legendary coach was reportedly urged to ‘wake up’ and then issued with an ultimatum: ‘You choose your family or [her].’

Belichick dodged a question about the alleged row and Hudson’s recent vow to sue podcaster Pablo Torre over a string of explosive reports about her. Football is my only focus, Belichick claimed. Alas, that has become increasingly hard to believe.

Belichick and Hudson are believed to have met on a flight in 2021 when she was in college and 19 years old. In early 2023 they were spotted together in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

‘From the moment Bill met her, he was mesmerized,’ a source says. ‘He was all powerful, but she was the focus and she knew it. Jordon was quick to take control of their relationship and he was just as quick to let it go.’

And so it was that they returned to the Big Easy ahead of Super Bowl LIX and sipped on Pat O’Brien’s signature rum-based cocktail. They call it the Hurricane. And perhaps it was the perfect way to wash down another night in the eye of a storm.

Julian Edelman spent more than a decade as one of Tom Brady’s most trusted weapons. The receiver won three Super Bowls with the Patriots between 2009 and 2020 and he can still recall the rule that Belichick ordered his players to live by: ‘Eliminate distractions.’

Over 24 seasons at New England, Belichick orchestrated one of the most dominant eras in football history. Between 2001 and 2018, the Patriots played in as many Super Bowls as they missed. Belichick helped Brady – the 199th pick in the 2000 NFL draft – become the most successful quarterback of all time.

But their relationship soured and, in 2020, Brady headed to Tampa and won yet another Super Bowl. ‘Tension had developed,’ the ex-quarterback revealed – rather diplomatically – earlier this year. Other players painted a bleaker picture of the ‘brutal’ life under Belichick.

Legendary tight end Rob Gronkowski has said he would pull into the practice facility and want to stay in his car. An ex-teammate, meanwhile, likened Brady to an abused dog for heading back to New England year after year.

Belichick left the Patriots in 2024 after a miserable season. It’s claimed Belichick struggled to forgive owner Robert Kraft for the split. But they all came together last year, when Brady agreed to be ‘roasted’ in front of the Netflix cameras.

Belichick opened the TV show but ended up catching a few stray bullets of his own. Gronkowski joked about his former coach ‘scouting his new girlfriend’ at a local high school; Brady said his favorite ‘Ring’ was the door camera that caught Belichick – topless – sneaking out of an Airbnb in June 2023.

He had spent a night with Hudson and, at first, the Airbnb’s owners wondered if this ‘creepy old guy’ was a ‘drug dealer’ or her ‘relative’. 

Cameras were supposed to capture Belichick’s first season with the Tar Heels, too. HBO had hoped to feature the team in their behind-the-scenes NFL reality series, Hard Knocks.

But then it emerged that plans had been shelved. Reports suggested Hudson’s demands were largely to blame. She is said to have asked to be an executive producer and to see advanced copies of the show. 

Hulu later agreed to do their own series about Belichick and the Tar Heels. That was dropped, too.

Penny for the thoughts of those networks now. Belichick’s tenure at the University of North Carolina would have made for captivating TV — particularly for rival fans. 

On September 1 this year, Belichick’s first game in college football ended in a massacre: Texas Christian University’s Horned Frogs saw off UNC 48-14. 

More heavy losses followed.

But arguably no loss did more damage to Belichick’s reputation then an interview he had given to CBS back in April. He was there to promote his new book but, in a clip that went viral, Hudson (sat off-camera) interrupted the conversation to shut down questions about how they met.

‘There’s no stopping her once she gets going, you can easily get railroaded in a conversation,’ a source says about the 24-year-old who, as the Daily Mail also revealed in April, has built a real estate portfolio worth $9.1 million since they began dating. ‘There’s Jordon’s way, or there’s Jordon’s way.’

To the couple’s critics, the CBS interview was a smoking gun, the latest proof that their fears about Hudson and her influence over Belichick were well-founded.

It emerged around the same time as other startling revelations. 

First, Belichick reportedly asked for Hudson to be included in all emails with UNC staff. Then correspondence, obtained by The Athletic, revealed she was offering her two cents on the school’s social media pages.

She questioned whether staff were going to delete ‘slanderous’ comments about Belichick, who echoed her frustrations. ‘I cannot believe that UNC would support my being called a ‘predator’,’ he wrote in one email.

A number of trademark applications were also filed by Belichick’s company TCE Rights Management. The company manager listed? Jordan Hudson. It was even claimed that Belichick’s family had been ‘digging into’ his girlfriend.

In May, UNC refuted allegations that Hudson was banned from their facilities. More than once, Belichick was forced to deny suggestions that he was ready to walk away. 

But the damaging headlines continued. 

Belichick was ridiculed for watching Hudson’s cheerleading debut in the wake of a bombshell report from WRAL that revealed around one fifth of UNC’s players had been cited for speeding. Many of them had been recruited under Belichick. 

‘He found himself in a trap – balancing the needs of UNC and his demanding lover,’ a source said. ‘He needed to get a grip.’

Following the Thanksgiving loss to NC State, Belichick refused to dwell on all that had gone on and all that had gone wrong. ‘Now we’re going to move into the offseason,’ he said.

The Daily Mail has been told that the 73-year-old is ‘committed’ to another year in Chapel Hill ‘to right the ship.’ He is not eyeing a return to the NFL.

‘Bill is currently adamant that he is going to make UNC a contender, and next season will be night and day compared to this season,’ a source said.

‘Jordon is on board with those thoughts and she is happy with where Bill is at and the life they are living on and off the field.’ 

But, it’s claimed, the 24-year-old would like to see Belichick back in the NFL ‘eventually.’

‘She would like him to get the overall wins record,’ the source added. The 73-year-old is currently 14 shy of Miami Dolphins great Don Shula’s tally (347).

‘It’s obvious Jordon will fight tooth and nail for Bill in the future, which is commendable,’ another source says. ‘But maybe she needs to realize going forward that while she can make him happy in many ways, her influence has not always been positive.

‘Bill was basking in an astonishing career when they met, dominating in the toughest of arenas in the NFL. But now he’s lost that luster because Jordon was, dare I say, simply too much of a distraction.’

Back in February, Belichick and Hudson left Pat O’Brien’s shortly after midnight.

They wandered down a quiet street and hopped in a car that carried them away from the noise and neon of Bourbon Street, through a barrier and into the darkness. But they were never likely to stay out of the spotlight’s glare for long.