North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick opened his second college football season with a 15-10 victory over TCU in Dublin, Ireland, on Saturday.
The 74-year-old former NFL head coach cracked a rare smile on the field at Aviva Stadium after the final play, sharing hugs with jubilant assistant coaches as they celebrated the Week 0 win.
The result marked a significant turnaround from Belichick's debut with the Tar Heels last season, when North Carolina suffered a blowout 48-14 loss against the same opponent.
New quarterback Billy Edwards Jr went 16-28 for 232 yards in his regular season debut for North Carolina after transferring from Wisconsin.
Off-field drama and sideline absence
Despite the opening-day victory in Ireland, Belichick's 25-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson was nowhere to be seen in Dublin and was absent from ESPN television coverage.
The cheerleader had previously been front and center alongside Belichick on the sidelines during Tar Heels games, making her absence notable following months of off-field turmoil surrounding the program.
Defensive play calling and staff absence
The win provided a rare positive moment for Belichick after a difficult period in Chapel Hill, headlined by his son, defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, taking medical leave.
Steve Belichick was scheduled to meet with reporters after North Carolina's first preseason practice on July 29, but officials claimed he was feeling under the weather. One week later, on August 6, Bill Belichick announced that his son was on medical leave with no timetable to return.
Asked about the situation on Monday, Bill Belichick declined to elaborate, saying there were no updates and adding that they would work it out.
With his son absent, Bill Belichick added defensive play calling to his head coaching responsibilities on Saturday, working alongside defensive line coach Bob Diaco during game preparation.
Belichick expressed confidence in his staff earlier in the week, noting that he had previously called plays on offense, defense, and kicking units during his career as head coach.
"I've called plays as head coach," Belichick said. "I've called plays on offense, defense, and the kicking game. Again, we have a really good staff. I have a lot of confidence in them. But if I need to do anything, I feel confident in doing it."
Tensions within the Belichick family
Steve Belichick's absence comes after reports of severe family tension regarding Bill Belichick's personal life.
According to a report by the New York Post, Steve's wife, Jen Belichick, lashed out at Hudson in a foul-mouthed, 40-minute rant in front of the head coach in November following a victory over Stanford.
Jen Belichick reportedly branded the 25-year-old as "bats*** crazy" and accused her of twisting the brain of her 74-year-old boyfriend, urging the coach to wake up and issuing an ultimatum to choose between his family or Hudson.
The incident followed claims that members of the Belichick family had begun investigating Hudson due to concerns that she could dismantle everything the coach had built during his career.
HR investigation into general manager
The Tar Heels are also managing turbulence within their executive staff after general manager Michael Lombardi was placed on paid administrative leave.
Lombardi joined Belichick in Chapel Hill following the head coach's transition to college football in December 2024. He was placed on leave after a former staffer filed an internal human resources complaint earlier this summer.
Lombardi earns $1.5 million annually at North Carolina, making him the highest-paid general manager in college football. University officials have not announced when the investigation will be completed.
