Bill Belichick is on the top of the world lately. The former New England Patriots head coach is gearing up for his first official season as the head coach at North Carolina, and on a personal note, he's often seen showing off his 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, on the red carpet and at various events.
But, a new report states that Belichick wasn't actually North Carolina's first pick to lead their team. North Carolina actually wanted former Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith over Bill Belichick, according to ESPN.
Smith, a Tar Heels alum, is currently the Steelers' offensive coordinator. Once he decided to stay in Pittsburgh, that made Belichick the school's top choice.
"Smith was intrigued, and he was seen as a consensus candidate at UNC, with support from (UNC Chancellor Lee) Roberts and board members," ESPN reported in a March 7 feature.
Another source told ESPN, "They were all hopeful they could lure Smith back to Chapel Hill, and then whether it was Belichick or anybody else, it would have been a moot point. Smith is who they wanted."
The report also states that North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham contacted Smith in early November to see if he would be interested in the position, even though it wasn't open yet. Smith, ESPN says, was "intrigued" by the opening, but in the end, it just wasn't meant to be.
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This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 11:31 AM.