Bill Belichick, Jordon Hudson and the relationship that's captivating a nation

If Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson were hoping things would quiet down after that awkward CBS interview, the news cycle is not in their favor.

Hudson and Belichick’s relationship found itself back in the headlines thanks to Saturday Night Live. During the May 3 cold open, President Trump (played by comedian James Austin Johnson) signed an executive order known as “The Belichick Law.”

“We’re going to make girlfriends young again,” he joked.

The spoof further cements these two as pop culture’s couple of the moment. Whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on who you ask.

Belichick, 73, and Hudson, 24, immediately captured headlines when they went public with their relationship last year. Their 49-year age gap is notable, clearly, but this is hardly the first time a prominent public figure has dated someone decades younger. So why is this particular May-December relationship captivating the country?

“Bill’s this legendary, no-nonsense football coach, kind of the ultimate stoic figure, while Jordon is young, vibrant and comes from a totally different world. That big age gap naturally makes people curious, but it’s more than that,” Amy Prenner, communications expert and founder of the Prenner Group, tells Yahoo Entertainment.

There was already interest in Hudson and Belichick’s relationship before the April 27 interview debacle. (The mermaid social media photo, anyone?)

“Folks were already intrigued by the little glimpses they got, whether it was playful jabs from former NFL players or stories about how they met. There’s a mix of mystery, humor and just plain fascination with the unusual nature of their relationship,” Prenner continues. “The fact that SNL featured a jab during the cold open about them shows just how much their story has become part of pop culture. It’s funny, unexpected and a little bit strange — all the ingredients that make for great comedy and conversation across different audiences.”

Here’s how Hudson and Belichick have created the perfect PR storm. Whether they’ll talk about it or not, the reality is, we still are.

Belichick and Hudson captivate ‘different audiences’

The headline-making outings. The beauty pageant contestant’s outfits. How she gets Belichick to play along as the fisherman to her mermaid. The PDA. Football fans hardly recognize the usually stoic Belichick. Even if you aren’t attuned to his accomplished NFL career, it’s highly likely one of your group chats has texted ad nauseam about Hudson and Belichick. People care!

“Just speaking candidly, I think most people would agree that there’s a ton of intrigue and curiosity to the age gap and how different their personalities are,” an interested party named “Bill” explains to Yahoo. (The Buffalo Bills fan asked Yahoo not to use his real name because, well, he prefers people publicly don’t know he’s interested in the story. He wasn’t the only one.)

“On one side you’ve got a legendary coach, completely stoic, and on the other you’ve got this young, ambitious and energetic social media expert,” Bill says. “It’s entertaining — what goes on behind the scenes in that relationship? I’d love to know!”

“He’s the [second] most winning coach of all time,” another guy tells Yahoo, who also preferred his name be kept out of it. “It’s out of character for him the way he’s behaving publicly and on social media.” For what it’s worth, this guy does care about the age gap too. “It’s interesting to me,” he says.

Peter Cambs, a longtime New York Jets fan, says the story has also been a big topic in his group chats. Not because of the 49-year age gap in question, but because the cagey way Belichick’s relationship has been handled in the press deepens the mystery.

“I [couldn't] literally care less who people date. It's really interesting for me, [living] in Europe, it's hard to kind of keep up with different sports. I'll listen to The Pat McAfee Show, Get Up with Mike Greenberg on ESPN, and what's really odd to me is ... they talk about literally everything, and they will not touch this topic,” says Cambs, who lives in Barcelona.

“Every time they interview him, it never comes up. … In my friend group, we’re all kind of like, ‘Why won’t these sports talk shows that supposedly talk about everything [talk about it],’” he says. “I think that’s what makes it so interesting because you’re like, ‘Well, what’s going on here?’ Again, who cares he’s dating somebody [young] and there’s an age gap. That’s nothing really that’s that new.”

One of the reasons interest in the couple has blown up is that their reach goes beyond a daily consumer of entertainment news.

“What’s interesting is that this relationship has caught the attention of both men and women, which doesn’t always happen with celebrity stories. Men might be curious about Bill’s personal life and the age difference, while women might relate to the emotional side or the challenges Jordon faces in the spotlight,” Prenner says.

“Their relationship is a fascinating look at how modern celebrity culture works and how tough it is to manage a personal life in the spotlight today,” she continues. “It’s also a great distraction to what else is going on in the world.”

Public relations expert Eric Schiffer puts it bluntly: “America loves train wrecks, especially with a six-time Super Bowl-winning conductor.”

One woman, who wished to be kept anonymous for privacy reasons, offers a different hot take to Yahoo.

“I like her. I like him. I get it,” she says. “Am I crazy?”

People love a ‘fourth wall’ moment

Although there was curiosity about how the two met — apparently in 2021 on a plane to Palm Beach, Fla., when she was in college — that went into overdrive when Hudson seemingly wouldn’t let her boyfriend answer the question on CBS Sunday Morning.

When reality stars break what’s known as the “fourth wall” in television, it’s instantly a viral moment. The same can be said in this instance, as CBS didn’t edit Hudson’s interruptions out. This backfired for the former cheerleader.

“Jordon’s interruptions during the CBS interview came off as controlling and defensive instead of supportive,” Prenner explains. “Instead of making them look open and honest, it made both of them seem a bit secretive and uncomfortable.”

Belichick was notoriously reserved with the media as the head coach of the New England Patriots. He can handle himself when he doesn’t want to answer a question, so when viewers saw Hudson speak for him, it was somewhat jarring.

“When Jordon stepped in so forcefully, it threw people off. Having Jordon act like a gatekeeper or publicist during the interview blurred the lines between personal and professional, and that rarely goes over well,” Prenner says. “It felt like they were trying too hard to control the story, which can make people suspicious rather than sympathetic.”

Schiffer agrees, adding, “Watching Belichick was like watching Invasion of the Body Snatchers.”

“A past chess master known for controlling narratives now lets a 24-year-old script him,” Schiffer, chairman of Los Angeles-based Reputation Management Consultants, continues. Optically, he thinks Hudson’s “We’re not talking about this” line didn’t come across as “protective” but more like a “power play that exposed their hierarchy to millions.”

Prenner believes this is “a great example of how celebrity stories aren’t just about the people involved; they’re shaped by media, public expectations and cultural views on age and power.”

“Their CBS interview showed how tricky it can be to balance privacy with the public’s desire for transparency. Sometimes trying to control the narrative too tightly just makes things worse,” she says.

Can they weather the storm?

Schiffer thinks the couple is on a collision course to implode from a brand standpoint.

“The age gap isn’t just a number; it’s a call to arms for public judgment, and America said ‘Let’s go,’” he says. “It’s become a PR disaster zone unfolding in real time.”

Prenner says Hudson and Belichick need a new strategy if they want to “improve how they’re seen” publicly.

“Being more authentic and letting their story unfold naturally could help,” she explains. “People respond to real moments more than polished PR moves. And it might be a good idea to keep personal and professional roles separate. Having Jordon act as a publicist only muddies the waters.”

Hudson is competing in Miss Maine 2025 this weekend. It remains to be seen where she will place, but she’s clearly already won Belichick’s heart.