When you think of Bill Belichick, you probably picture a guy in a cut-off hoodie scowling at a sideline reporter. It is all business. All football. But lately, the legendary coach has been making headlines for things that have absolutely nothing to do with a 3-4 defense or the "on to Cincinnati" mentality. Ever since his high-profile relationship with Jordon Hudson—a former cheerleader nearly 50 years his junior—went viral in late 2024 and throughout 2025, people have been digging into his past. Specifically, they want to know: who was bill belichick married to before the paparazzi started following him to New Orleans and Nantucket?
Most fans actually forget he was ever married. He was. For a long time.
While his dating life has become a bit of a circus recently, especially with his new role as the head coach for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, his marriage was the bedrock of his early coaching career. He wasn't always the "single and ready to mingle" guy in Florida.
The Woman Behind the Early Rings: Debby Clarke
Bill Belichick has only been married once. Her name is Debby Clarke Belichick.
They were the classic "high school sweethearts" story. They met when they were just teenagers at Annapolis High School in Maryland. Honestly, it is kind of wild to imagine a teenage Bill Belichick navigating a crush, but they stayed together through his college years at Wesleyan and his early, grueling days as a low-level NFL assistant.
They tied the knot in 1977.
That was the year Bill was working as a tight ends coach for the Detroit Lions. He was far from the "GOAT" back then. He was just a guy trying to make it in a tough business, and Debby was right there for the whole ride. They stayed married for nearly 30 years. Think about that timeline: she was there for the New York Giants Super Bowls under Bill Parcells, the messy stint in Cleveland, and the beginning of the New England Patriots dynasty.
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Raising a Football Dynasty
During their 29 years of marriage, Bill and Debby had three children: Amanda, Stephen, and Brian.
If those names sound familiar, it's because they are all over the coaching world now. Stephen and Brian both worked under their dad in New England for years. Stephen eventually moved on to be the defensive coordinator at the University of Washington before joining his dad at UNC in late 2024. Brian also made the jump to the Tar Heels staff as a safeties coach in early 2025.
Amanda went her own way, but stayed in the family business of coaching. She’s the head coach for women’s lacrosse at Holy Cross. Basically, the marriage produced a "coaching tree" of its own.
Why Did the Marriage End?
The Belichick divorce was finalized in 2006, right as the Patriots were the undisputed kings of the NFL. For a guy who keeps his private life in a vault, it was a surprisingly messy exit.
There were plenty of rumors.
One of the most persistent stories involved a former New York Giants receptionist named Sharon Shenocca. Tabloids at the time reported that Bill was sending her envelopes of cash and even bought a $2.2 million townhouse in Brooklyn for her to use. While both Bill and Sharon denied any romantic involvement—claiming they were just old friends from his Giants days—the drama certainly didn't help the marriage survive.
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Debby eventually moved on and started her own thing. She opened an interior design firm in Wellesley, Massachusetts, called The Art of Tile & Stone. She has mostly stayed out of the spotlight since then, focusing on her business and her grandkids. You’ll occasionally see a photo of her at a family event, like when she and Bill were spotted together in 2016 for a preservation award on Nantucket, but for the most part, she’s lived a quiet, successful life post-Bill.
The Long Relationship That Wasn't a Marriage: Linda Holliday
A lot of people think Bill was married twice because they saw Linda Holliday by his side for so long.
They started dating in 2007, roughly a year after his divorce from Debby. They were together for 16 years. Linda was everywhere. She was the head of the Bill Belichick Foundation. She was the one posting "lifestyle" photos of Bill that the public never got to see—Bill on a boat, Bill at a red carpet event, Bill actually smiling.
But they never actually walked down the aisle.
They officially split in September 2023, though insiders later claimed they had actually been "broken up" since late 2022. It got a little awkward. Reports surfaced in 2025 that there was even a "verbal incident" between Linda and Bill's current girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, at a Christmas party in late 2024.
The Current Chapter: Jordon Hudson
Now, the world is watching Bill's relationship with Jordon Hudson. They met on a flight from Boston to Florida back in 2021 when she was still a student at Bridgewater State. Bill apparently signed her "Deductive Logic" textbook.
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Classic Bill.
They went public in 2024, and since then, she’s been a constant presence. She even helps manage his PR through her company, Trouble Cub Enterprises. When Bill took the UNC job in 2025, Jordon was right there, even getting copied on internal emails according to some reports.
What This Means for Bill's Legacy
Looking back at who was bill belichick married to, you see a clear divide in his life.
- The Debby Era: The building of a legend. The 30-year grind from assistant to Super Bowl champion.
- The Linda Era: The peak of the dynasty and the transition into a more public, social figure.
- The Jordon Era: The "retirement" that isn't really a retirement, moving back to college ball and embracing a much more scrutinized personal life.
Bill might be an enigma on the podium, but his history shows a man who values long-term partnerships—even if they eventually end in a media firestorm.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you're following the latest on the coach's new life at UNC, keep an eye on the Tar Heels' sidelines this season. Jordon Hudson is frequently spotted at games, and with Stephen and Brian Belichick also on the staff, the "family business" is officially moving South. You can also check out the Bill Belichick Foundation’s recent filings to see how the leadership has shifted following his split from Linda Holliday.