New England Patriots fans loved Bill Belichick during the dynasty, but their feelings towards him now are a bit more complicated.
Belichick, the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach, left the Patriots at the end of the 2023 season. He then took a year off, went public with his relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson (Belichick is 73), and took the head coaching job at the University of North Carolina.
After Belichick and Hudson came under scrutiny for their strange behavior surrounding an interview with "CBS News Sunday Morning," one former Patriots Super Bowl champion has a bold take on the situation.
During Wednesday's episode of "WEEI afternoons," Boston radio host and former Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson called upon UNC to weigh their options with Belichick and consider cutting ties with him before his first season in charge of the program.
"I say all that to say this: That I think the Carolina Tar Heels should consider firing Bill Belichick," Johnson, said. "They should consider letting him go at this point. It’s a lot of money, and they’re deep into their preparation for next year.
"But I look at Bill Belichick and I wonder if he’s fit to coach an NFL team, let alone fit to coach a college team, which, again, I put more onus on the character and personality of a college coach than I do a pro coach. So I’m worried that Bill Belichick just isn’t fit to coach college kids, and UNC should consider cutting ties with Bill Belichick."
Follow The Sporting News On WhatsApp
Johnson, 52, played his entire 10-year NFL career in New England and won Super Bowls under Belichick in 2001, 2003, and 2004.
A former player throwing his own head coach under the bus isn't common, even if that player has made the transition to media. There's no doubt the attention on Belichick will only increase as the season draws closer.
More NFL: NFL insider offers 3-word warning on 49ers-Brock Purdy extension