Belichick Breakup: Patriots 'On Edge' About Romance Rumor?

A new report claims Bill Belichick has broken up with his long-time girlfriend, and the New England Patriots are concerned about his focus heading into Sunday's season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Bill Belichick has spent all week worrying about how to stop Philadelphia Eagles' MVP candidate Jalen Hurts. But, according to a new report, the legendary New England Patriots' coach may be dealing with another sort of pain.

The 71-year-old Belichick has apparently broken up with long-time girlfriend, Linda Holliday, and the split is causing concern about the coach's focus entering the season. The Patriots host the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.

According to the U.K. Daily Mail, Patriots' executives are "on edge" about the situation, though no details are provided in the story. The couple - which has been together since 2007, since Belichick's divorce from wife, Debby - has endured a nasty, "drawn-out" split that has lasted more than a year. Holliday is so entrenched that she heads the Bill Belichick Foundation and still lives at his house in Nantucket.

Holliday has a history of being aggressive on social media, making headlines in 2021 by publicly criticizing Tom Brady and his new team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After the Bucs beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV and Brady was named MVP, a fan wrote to her on Instagram: "Too bad Bill let Tom go!”.

Responded Holliday, "And you have all the answers evidently? Tom didn’t score last night … not once! Defense won that game. Were you even watching?”

Belichick reiterated this week that nearly five decades of scouting and game preparations haven't diminished his excitement in advance of his 29th NFL season.

"It's what I do," Belichick said. "I enjoy it. Beats working for a living."

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