Ex-Patriots star calls out Bill Belichick for double standards on distractions

Asante Samuel, a two-time Super Bowl champion and former New England Patriots defensive star, believes his former coach is a bit “hypocritical” in the final chapter of his career.

Speaking with TMZ Sports, the four-time Pro Bowl cornerback spoke about Bill Belichick’s transition to college football during his first season with the UNC Tar Heels.

New England Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel reacts in the second half against the San Diego Chargers in the AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, January 20, 2007. (David Butler II/USA Today Sports)

In addition to his early struggles on the field, Belichick has faced particular scrutiny off the field, particularly because of his relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson and his involvement in the coach’s football dealings.

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“He’s going to go through some growing pains. Man, he’s been in the NFL for so long. Adjusting to coaching kids and young athletes with the new NIL era and things like that, it might take him some time to adjust to the system.”

Samuel noted that the famous “Belichick method”, which brought the coach great success during his long career in the NFL, has changed.

“Obviously he needs to think outside the box,” Samuel said.

North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick and his girlfriend Jordon Hudson on the sideline during a game against TCU at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on September 1, 2025. (Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

But the conversation sparked a moment of reflection from Samuel, who noted that Belichick hasn’t held himself to the same standards he held his players to.

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“Coach is a hypocrite, man,” he said. “He was hypocritical in the way he did it. He told us to stay away from the media and not have family distractions and that kind of thing. Coach has everything going on. Coach, where did that come from? Why couldn’t we have fun like that now that you want to have fun?”

When asked specifically about Belichick’s relationship with Hudson, Samuel extended some grace to his former coach.

“Find happiness. If it’s going to be a little awkward and it doesn’t bother you, it doesn’t bother the other person, and you’re all happy together and it’s genuine, I mean, go for it.”

Belichick ended his NFL coaching career in 2023 as the architect of one of the greatest dynasties in league history, which saw the Patriots win six Super Bowls during his tenure.

Jordon Hudson, the girlfriend of North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick, stands on the sideline before a game against Stanford on November 8, 2025, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)

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Between the Tar Heels’ 4-5 record and Belichick’s relationship with Hudson making headlines, Belichick’s first season has been full of distractions. Last month, Hulu reportedly pulled the plug on a documentary series after Coach’s first season.

Also leaked was a heated on-mic moment between Belichick and Hudson, in which the pair could be heard making disparaging remarks about the production and graphics team while filming Belichick’s show, “Coach,” which aired on the Underdog Network last year.

The media circus surrounding the longtime coach reached a point where rumors began to circulate that the two sides were discussing a “potential exit strategy,” but Belichick and UNC later released statements denying that.

And just this week, Belichick denied rumors that he was interested in the vacant head coaching position of the New York Giants.

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