Belichick's Weeklong PR Nightmare

During one of the longest weeks of his career, Bill Belichick fumbled and stumbled during and after his cringey interview with CBS last Sunday. Former players and NFL pundits asked: How can the 73-year-old coach put his career and legacy in the hands of 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson? 

Sources tell Front Office Sports Belichick’s biggest problem is the absence of his secret weapon: Berj Najarian. 

During Belichick’s 24-year run with the New England Patriots, Najarian stood by his side as the coach’s “consigliere,” according to the New York Times. One of his official titles was “chief of staff.” But reporters knew Najarian as the “gatekeeper” for the six-time Super Bowl–winning coach, according to the Times—and as Belichick’s “right-hand man” per CBS News. Belichick largely delegated his media relations to Najarian, allowing him to focus on football. As director of football/head coach administration, Najarian handled damage control from mundane stories to crises like Spygate. 

Jordan Hudson, Coach

The two first met when Belichick was coaching the Jets. After bringing Najarian with him from the Jets to the Pats, the duo won six Super Bowls together. Belichick and Berj had connecting offices at 1 Patriot Place. Najarian had a “ton of power,” recalled former quarterback Drew Bledsoe to the Times. “Berj worried about stuff so Bill didn’t have to,” he said.

Najarian joined former Patriots OC Bill O’Brien at Boston College as chief of staff after Belichick was fired by Pats owner Robert Kraft in early 2024. That left Belichick adrift without his key media advisor and protector. Since then, Belichick has tried to put Hudson in Najarian’s role, according to former Pats players like Julian Edelman. “From what I’ve heard, Jordon is playing the Berj role,” Edelman said on his podcast with Rob Gronkowski.

That’s led to obvious problems since the ex-cheerleader doesn’t yet have the training or experience to pull it off.

“Belichick has had a personal PR guy for 20 years. But he doesn’t have Berj anymore,” said one source directly familiar with Najarian’s confidante role with the Pats. “Berj works for Bill O’Brien at BC now. So Bill’s all by himself.”