Bill Belichick Names Gio Lopez as UNC’s Starting Quarterback; Pregnancy Rumors Swirl

Chapel Hill, N.C., Aug. 28, 2025 - Six-time Super Bowl champion and first-year North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick announced today that South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez will start at quarterback for Monday’s season opener against TCU, marking Belichick’s collegiate coaching debut. “He’s made a ton of progress and will get the majority of the reps in practice,” Belichick said at a press conference Wednesday night, adding that Lopez “will be more ready as we go forward” in a program overhaul that brought in more than 70 new players.

The announcement drew immediate reactions from college-football fans on social media. Comments ranged from “Looks 35 years old” to “Bro finna be a dawg,” as supporters and skeptics alike weighed in on UNC’s quarterback room, which also includes Max Johnson, Bryce Barker and Au’Tori Newkirk.

Meanwhile, unverified rumors alleging a pregnancy between Belichick and partner Jordon Hudson spread online today, fueled by anonymous “family sources” on X (formerly Twitter). Despite widespread sharing of screenshots and memes, no reputable outlet has confirmed the claim, and both Belichick and Hudson have declined to comment.