Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick made his splashy red carpet debut with his much younger girlfriend on Thursday night, 24-year-old former college cheerleader Jordon Hudson.
The pair turned up at the American Museum of National History’s 2024 Museum Gala in New York City on Dec. 5. It was the first time they've appeared together on the red carpet for a major event. Belichick, 72, wore a black tuxedo for the occasion while Hudson wore an off-the-shoulder floor-length black gown with a slit up the side and rhinestone embellishments.
When news of the relationship broke over the summer, TMZ reported that the pair first met on a flight from Boston to Florida back in 2021 and that they had "bonded" over a philosophy project Hudson had been working on. Although Belichick had still been in a relationship with his longtime girlfriend Linda Holliday at the time, they reportedly exchanged contact information after landing and stayed friendly in the ensuing months.
However, after Belichick split from Holliday—whom he had been dating since 2007— he and Hudson apparently became "more than friends" privately during the 2022 season.
Before their relationship became public knowledge, Hudson attended Netflix's Roast of Tom Brady back in May, where their age gap became fodder for a few jokes told onstage.
"Coach, you used to talk about Foxborough High School when we sucked, former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski said at one point during the live event. "But now I know why you were so obsessed with Foxborough High School: you were scouting your new girlfriend."
Even Tom Brady got a dig in a one point, joking: "Everybody asks me which ring is my favorite, I used to say 'the next one.' But now that I am retired, my favorite Ring is the camera that caught Coach Belichick slinking out of that poor girl’s house a few months ago. Hey, you still got it. Respect baby."
Belichick was previously married to Debby Clarke from 1977 to 2006 and the couple share three children together, all of whom are considerably older than his new girlfriend. It must have made for interesting Thanksgiving dinner conversation this year, to say the least.
