Bill Simmons: UNC Email Shared by Jordan Hudson Explains Rift Between Belichick and Brady

Recent drama involving Bill Belichick and his girlfriend, Jordan Hudson, has stirred up headlines, but for longtime sports commentator Bill Simmons, the buzz is shedding light on the tension that ultimately ended the Patriots’ dynasty between Belichick and Tom Brady.

Simmons believes that an email from Belichick, shared by Hudson on Instagram, gives a crucial glimpse into the deteriorating relationship between the Patriots’ head coach and quarterback. The email was written by Belichick shortly after the media scrutiny surrounding his new book, The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football. The email discussed the strategy for promoting the book and also emphasized Belichick’s pride in his achievements in building the Patriots into an NFL powerhouse.

“I will say again, that I want this book to be presented as a look at my professional life and how I did my job on the way up to, and as the leader of an organization that grew from a $500 [million] franchise to an $8 [billion] organization that played in 10 and won 6 Super Bowls over 25 years,” Belichick wrote in the email.

Simmons believes this focus on Belichick’s accomplishments explains much of the tension that grew between Belichick and Brady. The two men, both critical to New England’s dominance, had differing views on how much credit each deserved. According to Simmons, while the “Patriot Way” narrative often downplayed individual credit, the issue of recognition eventually became a major point of contention between the two men.

“It was always like, ‘We’re in this together. There’s no credit.’ But the credit thing was a big part of it,” Simmons said during an episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast. “Clearly, they both kind of thought each of them was more responsible than the other.”

This divide, according to Simmons, led to Brady’s decision to leave New England for Tampa Bay in 2020. While both men were responsible for the Patriots’ success, the growing resentment over credit and influence drove a wedge between them.

The tension over the years was evident even as both men played crucial roles in the team’s sustained dominance. Brady’s departure to Tampa Bay marked the end of the Patriots’ dynasty, but the reconciliation of their relationship appears to have taken place after both men moved on from Foxborough. In his 2024 Patriots Hall of Fame induction speech, Brady spoke highly of Belichick, acknowledging the hard work and mutual respect that had defined their relationship.

“To Coach Belichick, thank you for your tireless commitment to develop and push me to be my very best. It wasn’t me, it wasn’t you, it was us,” Brady said at the ceremony. “There is no coach in the world I would rather play for than Bill Belichick.