ABC Faces Scathing Backlash for Bill Belichick’s Interview With Michael Strahan

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated May 19, 2025 5:09 PM ET

North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick recently appeared on "Good Morning America" to discuss his memoir, "The Art of Winning: Lessons from a Life in Football," football and recent events of his personal life, which appear to have struck a nerve.

NFL legend and GMA host Michael Strahan asked Belichick some difficult questions about his relationship with Jordon Hudson, a 24-year-old who is nearly 50 years his junior.

ESPN's Chris "Mad Dog" Russo took umbrage at Strahan's questioning during an appearance on "The Rich Eisen Show."

"Michael Strahan was not Mike Wallace on Friday on 'Good Morning America,'" Russo began. "One of the most awkward interviews I've ever seen in my life."

Chris Russo did not like Michael Strahan's Bill Belichick interview, via Suzy Shuster on @richeisenshow pic.twitter.com/ajG9u7iiBN
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 19, 2025

"What ABC did there, ABC gave carte blanche to Belichick," Russo said, implying the network allowed the coach to shape the interview. "Horrific. ABC was horrific, as they essentially sold their journalism chops to make sure Belichick, because he's in the news, stays on the air. ... They put Strahan in a tough spot ... No knock on Strahan, it's an impossible situation. One of his old coaching brethren, he's not going to put him on the spot!

"And if you're going to have Belichick on in that situation, you gotta ask him about Malcolm Butler. You gotta ask him about no Bob Kraft (Patriots owner) in your book. You gotta ask about how it ended in New England. You gotta ask him why he didn't get the Atlanta job two years ago. There are so many things you gotta ask him!"

This is the reality of today's journalism, as interviewees often can dictate the direction of the conversation, and the network gives the interviewee the final edit.

Why would Belichick appear on ABC, face these tough questions, and be held to account when he can simply go to another network that won't press him on these larger issues?

Hudson was not present with Belichick at "GMA" during Friday's interview. The former cheerleader who met Belichick on a flight in 2021 recently made headlines when she interrupted a CBS "Sunday Morning" interview during which Belichick promoted his new book.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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