L to R: Rob Gronkowski, Bill Belichick, Jordon Hudson and Julian Edelman. Photo:
Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty; Kevin Mazur/Getty; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
Two former Patriots have entered the chat regarding Bill Belichick and his girlfriend Jordon Hudson.
While on their podcast Dudes on Dudes, Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman showed solidarity in support of their former coach, who has come under scrutiny following an awkward interview he gave to CBS over the weekend.
“People are giving an unfair reality of what’s going on,” Edelman, 38, argued, explaining that Hudson, 24, was merely acting as her 73-year-old boyfriend’s “representative” when she was shown on camera interrupting correspondent Tony Dokoupil’s interview on CBS Sunday Morning.
Edelman continued, “Because she was jumping into that conversation during the interview just like any PR person would jump in when there’s an unnecessary question that probably [they] didn’t go over in the pre-production meeting.”
The retired wide receiver further made his case, explaining that Hudson was “ playing the Berj role,” referring to Berj Najarian, Belichick’s former close adviser with the Patriots.
“When you look at this situation and you say, ‘This is his girlfriend jumping in,’ I think that’s unfair,” he added. “I think she’s actually working with coach Belichick in the professional world.”
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Gronkowski, 35, agreed that the former college cheerleader was acting as the University of North Carolina football coach’s representative — and then made a joke regarding her name and the school.
“No one’s really putting this together,” Gronk cracked, as the screen flashed a picture of Michael Jordan playing for the team in the 80s. “When your name is Jordon and you’re on the University of North Carolina Tar Heels campus, you’re God.”
Jordon Hudson and Bill Belichick stepped out for dinner, one day after his “CBS Sunday Morning” interview aired. Santi Ramales / BACKGRID
In the days following Belichick’s interview, which he did to promote his new book, The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football, renewed attention has been on the couple’s relationship.
On Tuesday, Hudson sought to offer clarity to the conversation — at least as far as the book’s promotion goes.
Alongside a screenshot of an email Belichick wrote to his publisher in which he cited concerns about at least one piece of coverage about the book, Hudson wrote on Instagram: “Full statement to be released later today.”
Hudson did not release any further information on April 29.