Category: PCI

by Izzy Mignardi ’27 and Emilia Farrell ’28 on October 23, 2025

Providence College Investigates: Bill Belichick

Harming

Bill Belichick is widely regarded as one of the best head coaches in NFL history. Most notably, he led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles, the most of any NFL head coach. But at 73 years old, his coaching experience should stay within the NFL to preserve his legacy. In December of 2024, Belichick signed a five-year contract to become the head coach of the University of North Carolina’s football team. Belichick’s performance so far has been hard to watch. North Carolina is currently 2–4 and has yet to have a win against a major conference opponent. Three of those losses were blowouts, with UNC losing by at least 25 points each time. On Friday, Oct. 17, the Tarheels lost 21–18 to UC Berkeley in a game in which North Carolina fumbled at the one-yard line in what should have been the go-ahead touchdown with three minutes and 48 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. There are few signs of progress for this team under Belichick. Time after time, the team fails to rise to the occasion on the field. Belichick was once the best coach in the NFL, but his move to collegiate football has been plagued by a losing streak as well as internal discourse and off-field scandals concerning Jordon Hudson, Belichick’s 24-year-old girlfriend. UNC took a bet on Belichick, a living legend that they believed would greatly improve their program. Instead, Belichick has plagued a program that was once much more respectable. As the team moves into the second half of the season, it seems unlikely that they will be able to turn things around. In taking and performing poorly in the job at UNC, Belichick has ruined his reputation and legacy as one of the greatest in football history.

Helping

Lately, when you hear the name Bill Belichick in the news, it’s not associated with incredible football victories. Instead, it’s likely followed by, “and his 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson…” Has Belichick’s taste in women entirely ruined his reputation as one of the greatest coaches in football history? It depends on who you ask. Do I think this relationship is weird and disturbing? Absolutely. But do I think that his judgment negates the fact that he is one of the most successful football coaches? Not really. I’m sure die-hard football fans, especially Patriots fans, would still agree that he remains an indisputable great in the coaching world. Belichick holds several different coaching records. During his time with the Patriots, the team won 17 AFC East titles and appeared in nine Super Bowls, winning six. Belichick coached them to their first Super Bowl victory and led the historic Super Bowl LI game when the Patriots came back from a 28–3 deficit. Additionally, he won two Super Bowls during his time as defensive coordinator for the Giants. This means Belichick has won more Super Bowls than any other coach in history. In his book, The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football, he underscores one of the key aspects to his success: preparation. As a coach, he was prepared for every game and every possible situation. He held his players and himself accountable. “Do your job,” he’d say. Now, his job is to coach the UNC Tar Heels. Their current record of 2–4 does not reflect Belichick’s usual winning spirit. Many see his girlfriend on the sidelines before a game and attribute the team’s losses to her. I could agree with this, as I’m sure Belichick might not be as focused on football as he was in the past. So, has his taste in women ruined his reputation? It might affect his current coaching abilities, but I find it entirely unfair to write off Belichick’s football success because of mistakes he might be making in his personal life.