Adam Vinatieri jokes that Bill Belichick is at Jordon Hudson's cheerleading competition during Hall of Fame speech
Adam Vinatieri cracked a couple of jokes about Bill Belichick in his Pro Football Hall of Fame speech on Saturday.
As the longtime New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts kicker was inducted into the Hall, he noted that the current North Carolina coach was not in attendance and jokingly wondered if it was because Belichick, 74, was at a cheerleading competition for his 25-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson.
"Thank you for demanding excellence every single day," Vinatieri said of Belichick before cracking a couple one-liners. "Your preparation, discipline, and attention to detail shaped far more than my football career. Unfortunately, Bill couldn't make it here today. There's a lot going on at UNC right now. He may be on a recruiting trip right now looking for the next Lawrence Taylor. I thought it was because training camp already started. But in truth, it's because he's judging his girlfriend's cheerleading competition."
"All jokes aside, in my opinion, Bill is the greatest coach of all time."
Belichick has been spotted at Hudson's competitions since the two began dating. Belichick was also at the Miss Maine USA pageant in 2025 as Hudson finished third. She was second in 2024.
While the relationship between Belichick and Hudson generated a lot of attention across Belichick's first year with the Tar Heels, the "lot going on" at North Carolina isn't about the couple. General manager Michael Lombardi — who worked with Belichick in New England when Vinatieri was kicking for the Colts — has been placed on leave after a complaint was made against him by another UNC employee. North Carolina hasn't provided any details about Lombardi's absence.
Thursday, Belichick also announced that his son Steve was away from the team on medical leave.
Belichick was also infamously not part of Vinatieri's Hall of Fame class. The coach was on the ballot for the first time this cycle, but didn't receive the 40 of 50 votes necessary for induction. Per ESPN, Belichick reportedly asked "Six Super Bowls isn't enough?" when he was informed that he wasn't going to be inducted this summer.
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was also a finalist for the Hall this year. He was not selected either.
Vinatieri kicked for the Patriots for 10 seasons before spending the final 14 seasons of his career with the Colts. Belichick was his coach for his last six seasons in New England, and Vinatieri made game-winning field goals for the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI and Super Bowl XXXVIII.
