Former NFL MVP Cam Newton criticized his former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick on his podcast last week, saying Belichick has abandoned a mantra he used to preach to players.
In a video posted on social media from the “4th and 1 with Cam Newton” podcast account, Newton discussed Belichick’s relationship with girlfriend Jordon Hudson, which gained attention after Hudson inserted herself into a “CBS News Sunday Morning” interview.
Newton said Belichick violated his own rule by allowing his relationship to distract from his new role as head coach at the University of North Carolina.
“I find it extremely interesting for a person who’s always led with this, ‘Do not be a distraction,’ we’re talking more about Jordon Hudson than talking about who’s our starting quarterback,” said Newton, who played for Belichick in 2020. “You can’t name me three players on North Carolina’s roster right now besides Jordon Hudson.”
Newton worried not only about the media distraction but also about Belichick’s potential recruiting challenges because of the relationship.
“In an NFL locker room, we would laugh at this and say, ‘Hey, Bill, what do you have going on, bro?’” Newton said. “Now you’re having that same situation with a 16-year-old that you’re trying to recruit, and then you got to talk to his mama. This isn’t a good look as a teenager who has to ask himself, ‘Can I compartmentalize this person as being my coach and take heed to what he’s saying and be able to not throw that back at him and say, man, what you know, Coach, you got girl problems just like me?’”
Newton noted that Hudson’s presence around the school had become so well-known that when people ask about UNC, they must clarify whether they’re referring to her or Michael Jordan, the famous alumnus widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time.
Hudson’s involvement in the interview and other business matters has raised questions about Belichick’s ability to lead UNC’s football program, with sports journalist Pablo Torre saying there was a “real chance” Belichick wouldn’t make it to the team’s first game against TCU because of concerns about his decision-making.
Newton urged Belichick to refocus on football and revitalizing North Carolina’s program, which hasn’t won an ACC football championship since 1980.
“They had an old church song called ‘Get Your House in Order,” Newton said in a singing tone. “Do it today. So, I will sing that same song. Hey, Siri, send that song. Hey, Alexa. Hey, send that song. Hey, Gemini, send that song to my good brother Bill.”
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Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com.