By JAKE FENNER
Published: 07:16 EDT, 16 May 2025 | Updated: 07:16 EDT, 16 May 2025
Bill Belichick is set to coach his first college football game in just a few months time. But drama off the field has many wondering if he'll ever coach a game at all.
Belichick's ongoing saga with girlfriend Jordon Hudson has critics doubting if he'll ever put on a headset for the UNC football team.
So with plenty of noise surrounding him, one of Belichick's former players is eagerly looking forward to the coaching legend getting some wins under his belt.
Future Hall-of-Famer Rob Gronkowski told People Magazine he believes that success with the Tar Heels may be the only thing to silence the doubters.
'Bill has to produce and I'm going to be tuning in and I want to see him win some games,' Gronkowski, 36, told People on Wednesday.
'Because if he wins some games, he'll shut everyone up. And that would be fun to see, man.'
Rob Gronkowski believes his former coach, Bill Belichick, will use his success to quiet critics
Belichick and his relationship with Jordon Hudson has been a top sports story for weeks now
But Gronkowski believes that'll fall by the wayside once Belichick gets some wins at UNC
Unfortunately for Belichick, the story of the offseason hasn't been focusing on his preparation for a new endeavor.
Rather, the tumbles that Belichick and Hudson have taken are center stage in the minds of journalists and sports fans these past few weeks.
With Belichick set to do another national interview with Good Morning America on Friday, there's hope that he can re-focus his attention to the field.
Part of that focus could now exist after reports indicate that Hudson is no longer allowed to be at UNC's football practice facility.
Belichick has even publicly said that his relationship with Hudson is 'off to the side' and that 'she doesn't have anything to do with UNC football.'
The best possible thing that Belichick can do is limit distractions. While there's one huge distraction in front of him, Gronkowski says there's no one better in the industry at getting past them than the 73-year-old.
'That's what he's always done in his career and he's the best football coach out there,' Gronkowski told the outlet.
'He knows the game inside and out better than anyone, so we're just super excited to see what he can do on the field. Now I'm kind of getting sick of all the BS off the field. I want to see how it's going to go down on the field now in the ACC [Atlantic Coast Conference].'
Rob GronkowskiBill Belichick