Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson reportedly decided to take a step back from their relationship so the football coach could focus on his work with the North Carolina Tar Heels, according to the Daily Mail.
A source told the outlet that Belichick, 74, and Hudson, 25, mutually agreed that ending the relationship was best for both of them rather than allowing complications or resentment to grow. The insider claimed that the romance had drawn Belichick’s attention away from football, which was described as his “first love.”
According to the report, Belichick had been considering taking further steps with Hudson, including engagement, marriage and building a future together. However, the source said the constant attention surrounding their age-gap relationship became overwhelming, with the romance receiving more coverage than either wanted.
Hudson, a beauty queen, reportedly turned down opportunities including “Dancing with the Stars” and other projects because of the attention connected to the relationship. The source claimed that the publicity became a distraction and influenced some of her career decisions.
The pair allegedly chose not to publicly discuss their breakup when it occurred late last year, hoping to avoid another media spectacle before Belichick’s NFL season began. After TMZ reported the split on Friday, the coach was reportedly left dealing with renewed attention during what the source described as an especially inconvenient moment.
The source said Belichick would have preferred to keep the breakup private and that the public disclosure was not how he wanted the week to unfold.
Sources: Page Six.