There’s no denying the unprecedented success that Tom Brady and Bill Belichick brought to the New England Patriots. Their collaboration led to six Super Bowl titles in 19 seasons. Only the Pittsburgh Steelers have as many Super Bowl victories as them.
But as triumphant as they are, the clash between the quarterback and the head coach was no secret, especially when it was time for Brady to sign a contract extension. The tension was still there even when Brady was already with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as shared in a new ESPN article.
Tom Brady had a contentious feeling about Bill Belichick despite their achievements
ESPN senior writers Seth Wickersham, Wright Thompson, and Don Van Natta Jr. teamed up on a lengthy article entitled “It was the Patriot Way, until it wasn’t.” The feature story divulged the events leading to Bill Belichick parting ways with the franchise he coached for 24 seasons.
It also discussed the friction between Belichick and Patriots team owner Robert Kraft, especially when making front-office or personnel decisions. However, the narrative also took readers back to when Tom Brady returned to Foxborough as the enemy.
The then-defending Super Bowl champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the trip to Gillette Stadium for their 2021 Week 4 game against the Patriots. While the home team’s fans savored the return of their hero, Brady was all business as he led the Buccaneers to a 19-17 victory.
Despite the tensions they’ve had in the past, Wickersham revealed that Brady and Belichick met privately near the visitor’s locker room after that game. But when the Buccaneers left for their return trip to Tampa Bay, he said when someone brought up Belichick’s name:
“He doesn’t know what he’s losing”
Brady and Belichick’s successful but rocky relationship includes the selection of Jimmy Garoppolo as Brady’s successor and limiting the access of Brady’s trainer, Alex Guerrero, to the team’s facility. Wickersham revealed that the setup forced Brady and Guerrero to train at a maintenance shed that housed tractors.
Tom Brady left New England after the 2019 season. He played in Tampa Bay for three more seasons before retiring for good.
Bill Belichick and Tom Brady face new battles
Both icons will be starting the next stage of their lives. Brady is set to begin his stint as FOX Sports color commentator next season. He is also looking to invest as a Las Vegas Raiders minority owner, adding to his stake with the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces and the EFL Championship’s Birmingham City F.C.
Meanwhile, Belichick will look to continue his coaching career elsewhere, allowing him to break Don Shula’s record for most victories by a head coach. His glitzy credentials will make him a highly coveted hire by teams looking for a primary mentor.
