NFL coaching legend Bill Belichick is one of the game’s highest-profile stars.
The six-time Super Bowl winner has an overall record of 333 wins and 178 losses and was notably known as the mentor of football icon Tom Brady. Belichick’s storied career has seen him head up on-field operations at several franchises with immense success.
After assistant coaching stints with the Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, New York Giants and the Cleveland Browns, Belichick’s legend was forged when he became the New England Patriots’ head coach in 2000. During his time in charge of the Patriots, he set a record no one can hope to match; six Super Bowl victories and nine appearances in the prestigious game – the most in NFL history.
However, Belichick stepped down from the Patriots this year in what was a huge blow for the team. With Belichick now possibly on the hunt for a new NFL side, or even eyeing up a media role, we take a look at just how much he is now worth, what’s going on in his personal life and look back on the infamous ‘Spygate’ scandal.
Bill Belichick’s net worth
Belichick’s net worth has been something of a mystery over the years. Celebrity Net Worth places his value at around the $70million mark, however, due to the secretive nature of his contract with the Patriots, the actual figure is not currently known.
In fact, what that the legendary coach earned each year was known as one of the best-kept secrets of the New England Patriots and throughout the entire NFL. Rumours say that his base salary was around $12m, as per Marca.
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But some have guessed that this could actually be around $25m, given that he was the de facto general manager of the Patriots. From the start, the details of the veteran coach’s contract have been closely guarded by the team.
It is known that his first deal was for five years, but he signed a two-year extension in 2003 and then further deals in 2007, 2013, and 2023. In terms of his monetary value when compared to other coaches, though, Belichick’s salary trumps all.
Deals that have been officially reported are Chip Kelly, from his time with the San Francisco 49ers, and Ron Rivera with the Carolina Panthers, who both scooped $6 million annually.
The lack of data surrounding Belichick’s worth has even forced Forbes magazine to admit that it does not know how much the 72-year-old is worth, although it did reveal his salary in 2012 at $7.5m annually. Nevertheless, most pundits and insiders consider that he must have been the highest-paid head coach in the NFL.
Bill Belichick’s girlfriend
After calling off his longtime romance with TV host Linda Holliday, Belichick stunned fans when his relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson became public knowledge. The pair struck up an unlikely romance on a flight in 2021, but it was only made official in June of this year.
Hudson is a self-styled ‘glamorous Girl Scout’ as well as a pageant queen and a cheerleader. Her skills with the pom-poms have led her to win a national championship while she was a student at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts.
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When it comes to her pageantry work, she has taken part in Miss Maine USA, where she came first runner-up. As for what she does to make money, Hudson is an entrepreneur as well as an executive director at a special members club, Trouble Club Enterprises – she’s also apparently involved in Belichick’s business enterprises.
Belichick has been known to support Hudson’s activities. He was spotted rooting for her at a cheerleading competition in Maryland earlier this year. He is now reportedly planning to propose and was even spotted browsing around 20 different shops in New York and Los Angeles for an engagement ring.
(Image: (Image: Instagram @jordon_isabella))
The couple’s relationship has drawn mixed reactions due to their staggering age difference with Belichick 48 years older than Hudson. Some NFL personalities have voiced their opinions, with the couple’s romance even mentioned by New England icon Rob Gronkowski after he made fun of Belichick during Netflix’s roast of Tom Brady.
Bill Belichick’s NFL fine
While Belichick had a sterling reputation in the game, he was once handed one of the biggest financial penalties in NFL history. The Patriot’s chief was hit with a $500,000 fine, while his team were ordered to pay $250,000 for spying on an opponent’s defensive signals, according to ESPN.
The controversy came to light in game week one, back in 2007, after a camera was confiscated from Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella while he was on the New York Jets sideline during a game between the pair. Jets coach Eric Mangini tipped off league officials that the Patriots may have been filming their signals during the match-up.
The Jets registered a formal complaint to the league after the game. NFL rules state that “No video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches’ booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game.”
Following the scandal, commissioner Roger Goodell also ordered the Patriots to give up their first-round draft choice. Speaking on the unsavoury drama, Goodell said: “This episode represents a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid long-standing rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition on the playing field.”
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Goodell said he had even considered suspending Belichick but decided against such actions. On why he chose to let Belichick continue coaching, he added: “I believe that the discipline I am imposing of a maximum fine and forfeiture of a first-round draft choice, or multiple draft choices, is in fact more significant and long-lasting, and therefore more effective, than a suspension.”
Belichick, however, accepted full responsibility. Speaking at the time he said: “I apologize to the Kraft family (Patriot’s owners) and every person directly or indirectly associated with the New England Patriots for the embarrassment, distraction and penalty my mistake caused. I also apologize to Patriots fans and would like to thank them for their support during the past few days and throughout my career.”
The sanctions against Belichick were the harshest imposed on a head coach in league history at the time. However, this was later eclipsed by New Orleans Saints’ Sean Payton, who was suspended for the entire 2012 season.
