Latest news with #BillBelichick
New York Times
8 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
Bill Belichick's North Carolina contract changes on June 1. What does it mean?
Soon after North Carolina hired six-time Super Bowl champion head coach Bill Belichick in December, an interesting, and possibly significant, date emerged: June 1. That's when Belichick's buyout drops by $9 million if he were to leave the Tar Heels on his own. At the time, the contractual provision looked like a potential escape valve if the former New England Patriots head coach wanted to return to the NFL. After an offseason of watching his personal life overshadow his professional life in his first foray into college coaching, the speculation has taken a different turn, making the subject worth revisiting. Advertisement Though fans typically think of buyouts going to coaches who get fired without cause — like Texas A&M owing Jimbo Fisher more than $70 million by canning him in 2023 — the payouts work both ways. When Belichick signed his formal UNC contract in January, he agreed to pay the Tar Heels $10 million in liquidated damages if he chose to exit. On Sunday, that figure drops to $1 million, owed within 180 days. It remains $1 million through the rest of the five-year contract. To be clear, he has given no indication that he's looking to quit. This month, his Tar Heels picked up a pair of non-binding oral commitments in the 2026 class, including Travis Burgess, the No. 30 quarterback in the 247Sports composite rankings. But the fact that the 73-year-old Belichick was new to the college game and recruiting led to questions about whether he'd want to return to the pros. He needs only 15 NFL victories to pass Don Shula for the most in league history. Raiders minority owner Tom Brady reached out to Belichick about Las Vegas' coaching vacancy in January, before Belichick and UNC finalized their contract. Since then, Belichick's girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, has become one of the biggest figures of the offseason. Belichick has said he has personal and professional relationships with the 24-year-old. They have intersected at times, including when he asked the Tar Heels to copy her on emails. Hudson shot down a question from CBS to Belichick about how they met with a now-famous line: 'We're not talking about this.' If Belichick and/or Hudson is unhappy with the situation surrounding his Tar Heels tenure and the media circus, the decreased buyout makes it more manageable for him to walk away. It's common for buyouts like Belichick's to decrease over time, regardless of whether they'll be paid by the school (if a coach is fired for cause) or the coach (if he leaves for another job). For example, UCF's Scott Frost — another coach hired this cycle — would owe the Knights $6.5 million if he left before July 2026. The figure drops by $1 million annually. Advertisement Ryan Day would owe Ohio State $6 million if he quit today. The buyout falls to $4 million on Feb. 1 and dwindles to $0 in February 2031 under the new contract he and the school signed earlier this year. Belichick's contract runs through the 2029 calendar year. Belichick makes $10 million annually ($1 million in base pay, $9 million in supplemental pay). The first three years are fully guaranteed if the school fires him without cause before the end of 2027. There is no buyout specified after that. On-field bonuses range from $150,000 for winning eight regular-season games to $1.75 million for a national championship.
New York Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
EA Sports College Football 26: The 5 biggest changes in game's new version
ORLANDO, Fla. — I have played an early edition of EA Sports College Football 26, and I've got some thoughts. The return of the college football video game series last year was 11 years in the making, and it mostly lived up to the hype. CFB25 was a joy, but it was far from perfect with some obvious holes. Despite its flaws, it became the highest-selling sports video game of all time in total dollars because of that excitement and execution. Advertisement So what's in store for Round 2? EA Sports announced some new features on Thursday ahead of the July 10 launch, and The Athletic got to test out the gameplay in person for a few hours. This is not a full game review, as I haven't played the whole game, but here are the five biggest changes to the franchise for CFB26. 1. Real coaches are in the game (mostly) and the coaching carousel is deeper Lane Kiffin said last year he'd be in the game for free, as coaches immediately realized its recruiting value. Now, more than 300 real coaches and their likenesses are here, including head coaches, offensive coordinators and defensive coordinators. Not everyone is signed up, either because they declined or haven't responded yet. Bill Belichick is not in the game, which is not a big surprise since he didn't make himself available for Madden either. I also didn't see Deion Sanders when playing a game as Colorado. Real coaches have their own tendencies and skills that show up in Dynasty mode. In the coaching carousel, you can see a G5 coach move up the ranks, a real college coach leave for the NFL or change coordinators. That was in the game last year, but now they're real. It's technically possible to see Kirby Smart struggle and stumble down the ranks to become a Group of 5 coordinator if things go poorly. 2. High School Mode is back in Road to Glory, and it's optional This was one of the top demands from gamers, since High School was part of RTG in the old NCAA series. Developers told me they didn't have time to fit it all in last year and felt most gamers just wanted to focus on the college experience. Indeed, they said Thursday that the feedback was mostly positive. Still, they planned to bring High School back and now they have, but players can skip it if they like. After playing it briefly, I'll tell you it looks very fun and creative, coming from someone like me who didn't like the old High School mode. You pick 10 schools and play five high school weeks. In those weeks, you're just trying to complete a few tasks in a game, like a certain kind of throw, to gain points for a 'tape score.' When you earn enough points, you get a scholarship offer. But that point threshold is different from school to school. A 'challenge' from a school is another point-boosting opportunity. You pick your star rating to start, but it can rise or fall depending on how you do in the tasks. Advertisement You can commit and decommit and see who else your suitors are recruiting. Schools also offer you certain skill bonuses that help your college player, which is the stand-in for NIL. You can get an offer from a school, but wait for them to increase the skill bonus based on your tape score. Developers said the goal is for High School mode to last about an hour of gameplay. 3. Online Dynasty Cross-Play Xbox players rejoice. We won't be left out of our PS5 friends' online dynasties any longer. Cross-play allows gamers with Xbox and PS5 to compete against each other with up to 32 players. While cross-play was already playable for single games, it's now available for Dynasty mode, which was already in place for Madden. 4. Formation subs and dynamic subs This was the biggest in-game request from gamers, and it's here. Formation subs allow you to set lineups in the pause menu for specific formations, like a power running back for short-yardage runs. Dynamic subs will allow you to make quick individual substitutions during the course of the game using the D-pad, without needing the pause menu. It pulls up a little screen to let you know the status and overall rating of players at different positions. You can also work auto-sub sliders for each position, setting up a sub when a specific position reaches a certain wear-and-tear level. Powerhouse Programs. Real World Coaches. Electric Traditions. Experience it all in #CFB26. Coming July 10. Pre-Order Now🔗: — EASPORTSCollege (@EASPORTSCollege) May 27, 2025 5. Gameplay is smoother, and a lot of the little annoyances are gone When you first start playing a game, it mostly feels the same. This isn't some big overhaul, obviously. Last year was an entirely new game, especially new for me as someone who got out of gaming when the NCAA series went away. So it's not jarring anymore to jump on the sticks and see a real college quarterback making a throw. But the more I played over the course of a few hours, I started to notice a lot of little improvements. For example, your receivers will make more catches in contact. Developers told me they realized there were too many pass breakups on hits. That's nice. Quarterback scrambles out of pass plays are much smoother and realistic-looking. Your QB doesn't need to fully stand up in his throwing stance before you can start running around. Defensive linemen now have 'block-steering' ability, where you can push an offensive lineman in a direction that you choose. It's a nice addition for people who play with a DL. Advertisement Running the ball was my favorite part of CFB 25, and it's even better in this next game. Run-after-catch was also smoother. There's a lot more you can do on defense, too. Developers heard the feedback that playing defense was too hard. It seems a bit easier with better tackling, but for the hardcores, you can now set custom DB zones (in response to custom receiver stems), you can commit to certain routes and guess the play, and you can call stunts and twists on the line by holding the play selection button and choosing from options. Other notes: — Oklahoma might be this year's most popular team, thanks to the additions of quarterback John Mateer and running back Jaydn Ott. The Sooners were a lot of fun to use. — There are more renovated stadiums, including Florida State, but Northwestern is still at the old Ryan Field. There are more, but not all, bowl stadiums. No Ireland, and still not every NFL stadium. — Trophy Room is back in Dynasty Mode. Not only can you see the trophies and awards you've won, you can click and see the all-time history of trophy winners, like Wisconsin being the first Big Ten champion in 1896. That's cool. — Rivalry games and night games will have a greater impact on Stadium Pulse shaking. The rivalry trophies are also highlighted in the game menu. Yes, even the Civil ConFliCT trophy is in this game. — Protected games are in Dynasty after being pulled at the last minute out of CFB25. — Wear-and-tear can last throughout the season in Dynasty and Road to Glory. — Thankfully, the menu screen is no longer just that drumline over and over and over. It will now include marching band covers of some real songs. — Speaking of real songs, 'Enter Sandman' for Virginia Tech was the big one, as evident in the trailer. It also added 'Mr. Brightside' at Michigan, 'Seven Nation Army', 'FE!N' by Travis Scott, 'I'm Shipping Up to Boston' at Notre Dame and the '2001: A Space Odyssey' song for South Carolina's intro, among others. Overall, my takeaway from these early pieces of CFB26 is that the game filled the major holes from CFB25. We'll have the main modes and in-game adjustments that were needed. I'll have a full review later in the summer when I get to play the whole game. During a week in which leaders in college football again argued about the future of the College Football Playoff and threats to leave the NCAA, this game was once again a reminder of the celebration of all of college football. There are so many more stadium run-out shots and new school-specific songs/chants added, along with turnover celebrations. We got Akron's tire celebration and Clemson's bus entrance in the trailer. New additions Delaware and Missouri State look as good as everyone else (and I particularly liked the Delaware playbook). CFB25 wasn't a reskin of Madden, as many gamers feared. It was uniquely college football. The early returns look like CFB26 will be that once again. (Top photo courtesy of EA Sports)
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Jordon Hudson drops MAJOR hint about wedding venue amid Bill Belichick engagement rumors
It appears that Jordon Hudson is already planning her wedding to football coach Bill Belichick amidst rampant rumors of their engagement - or at least, she has a good idea of what she wants their special day to look like. Last week, a shock report in the New York Times alleged that Hudson, 24, has told 'at least one person' that she is engaged to be married to Belichick, 73, who she has been dating for over two years. Speculation about the couple's relationship has been rife for months, ever since Daily Mail exclusively photographed Hudson at a New Orleans dinner during Super Bowl week with a rock on her left finger. TMZ also reported early this month that the name of Belichick's boat appears to have been changed from 'VIII Rings' - a reference to the Super Bowl rings he won coaching the New England Patriots - to 'I+VIII Rings,' ostensibly confirming reports that the couple is set to be married. And now, Hudson is only further fueling the rumors herself, as it appears that she's following multiple wedding-related Instagram accounts from her public-facing page, @jordon. In screenshots obtained by Hudson is following the Instagram account for The Breakers Hotel weddings in Palm Beach, Florida, as well as Boston Weddings by Boston Magazine, a page that shares the 'ultimate guide to New England celebrations.' The Breakers Hotel, a luxury resort near Mar-a-Lago that can cost thousands of dollars per night during peak snowbird season, offers a venue that can fit up to 500 people. The hotel's Instagram account for weddings showcases the various events that they throw, sharing pictures of brides' dresses, catering, and decorations. It's a luxe getaway that hosted the 2015 wedding of Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello. The hotspot has multiple locations on its property where you can tie the knot, too, including its Ocean Lawn overlooking the Atlantic, or its 6,100 square foot Mediterranean Ballroom, which was modeled after the 'loggias of Italian villas.' However, you can't get married there without spending a pretty penny. Per Party Slate, a minimum wedding spend at The Breakers is $50,000. Vergara's wedding at the locale reportedly cost $4 million. It's unclear if this is the venue that Hudson and Belichick will choose for their alleged upcoming nuptials, but it certainly seems like the bride-to-be is looking into it - or at least taking some inspiration from the opulent hotel. Belichick owns a condo in Jupiter, Florida, per People - only a mere few miles away from the Palm Beach hotel. But it looks like the venue isn't the only thing that the pageant queen is considering. Hudson is also following a number of wedding photographers on Instagram, including those located in Oahu, Hawaii, and Southern California. The wedding photographer in Hawaii seemed to mostly capture pictures of people's weddings, while the one in California took snaps not only of weddings, but of engagements and other monumental life moments such as graduations. Getting married in Hawaii or California would be an interesting choice for the couple, as Belichick mostly owns property in Massachusetts, where he coached The New England Patriots for 24 seasons. Plus, Hudson was born and raised in Hancock, Maine, making it much more likely that they would host a wedding in the New England area - but as we know, it appears that this couple is always keeping people on their toes. The couple's relationship has been a hot topic since Hudson 'gatecrashed' Belichick's sit-down interview with CBS's Tony Dokoupil. Dokoupil began quizzing Belichick on the romance, in particular the critics who have relentlessly trolled the couple for their near half-century age difference. 'Never been too bothered about what everyone else thinks. Just try to do what I feel is best for me and what's right,' Belichick bluntly responded. The host continued to ask about how the couple met - an encounter that is reported to have taken place on a flight - but Hudson swiftly intervened. Before Belichick could even get a word out, she interjected in excruciating fashion to immediately shut the question down. 'We're not talking about this,' she said off-screen. The cringe-worthy moment turned even tenser when Dokoupil turned to clarify with Hudson, wearing a thunderous expression on her face, and she hit back with an emphatic 'No.' However, a source recently told Daily Mail that Hudson isn't bothered by her 'bad guy' persona, as the pair are head-over-heels in love and not much can get in the way of that. 'To many people's shock or dismay, Jordan and Bill are in love and though they don't want the constant pressure and eyeballs on their relationship every second, it also acts as a fuel for their relationship and makes them even more in love,' the source exclusively told the Daily Mail. 'They are thriving in people's jealousy. They both have hit the lottery and are all about each other and they both feel that they make each other better,' the source continued. 'Everyone seems to want to pounce on Bill and Jordan if there is any type of misfortune that comes their way, just wait to see all the crap Bill will get if his UNC team is bad this year, he'll never hear the end of it. 'And Jordan is a bad guy to the public, but when it comes to both of them, they are happy, and they are in love, and they want to get married. That is definitely the next step in their relationship and he wants her to have everything she has always wanted and deserves.' The source also shared that the wedding planning will be mostly up to Hudson herself.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Is Bill Belichick really paying $1 million to escape UNC over the Jordon Hudson controversy?
Could the Jordon Hudson scandal push Bill Belichick out of UNC with a staggering $1M price tag? (Getty Images) The air around Chapel Hill has grown thick with speculation, and not even the glow of Carolina blue can mask the tension swirling within the University of North Carolina's football program. Bill Belichick, the NFL's legendary tactician with eight Super Bowl rings to his name, took an unexpected leap less than six months ago—swapping the icy resolve of New England for the promise of revitalizing UNC football. But as June 1 approaches, what was once heralded as a daring new era may be reduced to a cautionary tale of ambition gone sideways. What's forcing Bill Belichick to leave UNC—Jordon Hudson saga or Pablo Torre 's legal firestorm? Bill Belichick's arrival was nothing short of a seismic event in the world of college sports. With his son Stephen Belichick stepping in as defensive coordinator and expectations soaring sky-high, the Tar Heels believed they were on the cusp of a football renaissance. 'I didn't come here to leave,' Belichick asserted at his introductory press conference, a declaration that sought to silence skeptics. Yet, that very commitment now seems to hang by a thread. At the heart of this unfolding drama is a controversy that stretches beyond playbooks and practice fields. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo The situation involving Jordon Hudson—a 24-year-old former cheerleader, now reportedly romantically linked to Belichick—has introduced a narrative UNC likely never anticipated. Pablo Torre, a respected voice in sports journalism, hasn't shied away from probing deeper into the matter. 'This was weird before Jordon Hudson became a character, one of the protagonists,' Torre remarked, highlighting how Hudson's growing influence—allegedly being named COO of Belichick Productions and receiving backstage media boosts—has only intensified the circus around the program. Pablo Torre on how Belichick-Hudson drama affects UNC (Full PFT PM) | Pro Football Talk | NFL on NBC The friction hasn't remained behind closed doors either. Torre pointed out the peculiarities in Belichick's contract, especially a clause allowing him to walk away by simply writing a $1 million check by June 1. 'On June 1, Bill Belichick has the power to write a check for a million dollars and walk away,' said Mike Florio during a recent episode of NFL on NBC. This clause, buried in legal language, could be the escape hatch Belichick built into his new chapter—a quiet exit strategy if things soured. Now, those whispers have evolved into widespread skepticism. 'I think there's a chance, an absolute real chance that he doesn't [make it to Week 1 with North Carolina],' Torre added. Legal tensions, particularly surrounding Hudson, have also sparked threats of litigation, casting another shadow over an already tumultuous situation. And while UNC officials have denied banning Hudson from team facilities, public perception is shifting fast. Financially, Belichick's potential departure represents more than a $1 million check—it could disrupt recruiting pipelines, tarnish administrative reputations, and set the football program back years. What once promised a legacy shift may now end in an abrupt, silent retreat. As June 1 nears, Chapel Hill stands on the edge of uncertainty. Whether Belichick stays or chooses to pull the parachute cord, this saga underscores how rapidly dreams in college football can morph into high-stakes gambles—where legacy, leadership, and loyalty are tested beyond the field. Also Read: 'Have some shame': Travis and Jason Kelce spark fan backlash over hosting Wayne Gretzky on New Heights podcast Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Two-time Super Bowl champion David Andrews to retire after a decade in the NFL
Two-time Super Bowl winner David Andrews is retiring from the NFL after a decade in the trenches for the New England Patriots. Andrews announced his retirement on Wednesday and will hold his retirement press conference on Monday. The 32-year-old played for his entire 10-season NFL career with the Patriots, coming into the team with the duo of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick at quarterback and head coach. Andrews went unselected in the 2015 NFL Draft and was picked up by Belichick as a reinforcement for the preseason. After playing a ton in leadup to the start of the regular season, Andrews started in Week 1 and did not give up his starting spot for 10 weeks. From the 2016 season on, Andrews has been the center of choice for the Patriots, helping Belichick win his final two Super Bowls in 2017 and 2019. 'Congrats on a hellva career DA,' former Patriot Julian Edelman said on social media. 'Remember your first start. UFA, rookie year, had fire in his eyes and never looked back. Congrats brother!' The former Georgia Bulldog became popular with Patriots fans after taking a 50 percent pay cut to stay with the team in 2021. Andrews played his last game for the Patriots last October after suffering a season-ending injury against the San Francisco 49ers. Andrews release in March did not see him linked with other NFL teams despite every team being keen on building their depth in the trenches. The behemoth finishes his NFL career with 124 games played, with 121 starts.
