Tom Brady and Bill Belichick were the driving forces behind the New England Patriots’ two-decade run of NFL dominance, winning six Vince Lombardi Trophies during their time together. Despite their success, their relationship was often the subject of speculation. Brady, famously drafted in the sixth round in 2000, spent 20 seasons in New England before leaving for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019. Belichick, who had been an assistant coach with the Patriots before returning as head coach in the same year Brady was drafted, had a straightforwardly transactional relationship with the quarterback.
During a recent appearance on “The Breakfast Club,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft shared his account of the moment Brady told him about his decision to leave New England. Kraft recalled Brady coming to his house in tears in March 2020 and informing him of his decision to leave after 20 years with the franchise. Despite the possibility of franchising Brady to keep him tied to the team for one more season, Kraft kept his word to the quarterback and allowed him to make his own decision. Kraft suggested that the emotional toll of leaving New England weighed heavily on Brady, who had been living under difficult circumstances with the team for the last decade.
Brady’s father, Tom Brady Sr., revealed in 2017 that his son and Belichick had never even had a meal together outside of team activities. He suggested that Belichick’s tough and military-like coaching style, along with his poor interpersonal skills, directly contributed to the decline of the Patriots’ dynasty. However, in a surprising turn of events earlier this year, Brady and Belichick appeared to mend fences when the coach took playful jabs at the former quarterback during “The Roast of Tom Brady.”
Kraft’s revelation about Brady’s emotional departure from New England sheds light on the strained relationship between the quarterback and his long-time coach. Despite their unprecedented success together, the dynamics of their working relationship were primarily transactional, with little personal connection between the two. Kraft’s decision to allow Brady to leave the team and pursue his own path to Tampa Bay highlights the importance of autonomy and respect within the organization. The emotional toll of leaving the Patriots after two decades was evident in Brady’s tearful departure, suggesting that the divide between quarterback and coach had taken its toll on both parties.
Brady’s departure from the Patriots and his subsequent success with the Buccaneers raised questions about the role of personal relationships in professional sports. Kraft’s decision to honor his agreement with Brady, despite the potential consequences for the team, emphasizes the importance of trust and integrity in maintaining successful partnerships within the organization. While Brady and Belichick may have had a strained relationship throughout their time together, the willingness to move forward and mend fences demonstrates the resilience and adaptability required in the world of professional sports. As Brady continues to thrive in his new environment, the legacy of his partnership with Belichick will be remembered as a complex and multifaceted chapter in the history of the NFL.
