Maine fishermen have a supporter in 24-year-old Jordan Hudson, the girlfriend of 72-year-old former New England Patriot coach Bill Belichick.
Hudson, who often finds herself at the center of attention due to her relationship with the eight-time Super Bowl winner (including two as a defensive coordinator), used the spotlight this past weekend to give some attention to something she holds near and dear — the Maine seafood industry.
On Saturday (Feb. 8) night, ahead of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana, Hudson attended a party hosted by Sports Illustrated wearing an eye-catching accessory — a lobster bag customized to spell out “Save Maine Fishermen” in black rhinestones.
“I have a message that pays homage to my family and a message that I’d like to put out there and give a little bit of recognition to the fishermen in Maine,” Hudson told People. “They need help, and hopefully through fashion, we can bring awareness to the fact that fishermen and lobstermen in Maine are struggling.”
Bill Belichick’s girlfriend, 24-year-old Jordan Hudson, is paying homage to fisherman everywhere with a nautical-inspired look 🦞 and she has Facebook Marketplace to thank! pic.twitter.com/DOoGi45J8X
— ExpressUSNews (@ExpressUSNews) February 9, 2025
Hudson’s parents, Lee and Heath, were mussel harvesters who owned their own business out of their Hancock, Maine, home. But the company went bankrupt after the state closed Taunton Bay to commercial shellfish dragging for five years in 2000.
Still, the seafood industry appears to have stayed near and dear to Hudson’s heart. In November, just ahead of Election Day, she took to Instagram to share a plea to “do your research and vote wisely.”
“The consequences of poor local and state legislation can be devastating,” she posted. “I would know, as my life has been severely altered by just that. During the early 2000’s, a series of bills were passed by the Maine State Legislature (some of which were co-sponsored by local reps) that were detrimental to Maine’s entire fishing industry and wiped out many fishing communities; ultimately resulting in the closure of my family’s multi-generational fishing business.”
She continued: “The bills were passed in the name of sustainability and environmental protection, but they did not account for both the natural environment and the human environment. The elected officials did not possess the essential knowledge base necessary to make informed decisions regarding the matter, nor did they desire to communicate with or listen to those who had data-backed solutions. By the time these bills were repealed or amended, the subsequent damage was irreversible for many, including us.”
The seafood industry is crucial to the US state. In 2023, Maine commercial landings totaled 204.7 million pounds with an ex-vessel value of $611.3m.
