Tom Brady has penned an emotional tribute to the ‘best coach in the history of the NFL’ in Bill Belichick after the 71-year-old’s Patriots exit, hailing the ‘amazing’ dynasty that saw them both win six Super Bowls together.
Brady, 46, and a seven-time Super Bowl champion, played under Belichick, who he considers to be a ‘father figure,’ for 20 seasons in New England, from the year he was drafted in 2000 as the last 199th pick overall, all the way until 2020.
He left the Patriots, two years before retiring in 2022, winning his first and only Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under then-head coach, Bruce Arians.
‘I’m incredibly grateful to have played for the best coach in the history of the NFL,’ Brady wrote to start of his statement on Belichick on Thursday.
‘He was a great leader for the organization, and for all of the players who played for him. We accomplished some amazing things over a long period of time, many of which will be hard to replicate. he worked every day to help up achieve the ultimate goal, in the ultimate sport.’
Tom Brady penned a lengthy tribute to Bill Belichick, whom he considers to be a ‘father figure’
The duo won six Super Bowls together (2000-2020) forging one of the best NFL dynasties ever
Brady (L), Belichick (R) and Patriots owner Robert Kraft (C) after winning Super Bowl XLIX in ’15
Brady wrote that he although they were successful he learned many ‘lessons’ under Belichick
‘And, although we were successful, some of the greatest lessons, I learned, were in the moments where we faced the most challenging adversities. He set the tone for the organization, to never Falter in the face of adversity, and to do what we could do, and what was in our control, which was to go out and do our job.
‘I could never have been the player I was without you Coach Belichick. I am forever grateful. And I wish you the best of luck in whatever you choose next.’
In a week full of shock departures, particularly those of Nick Saban at Alabama and Pete Carroll in Seattle, there seems to only be questions regarding Belichick’s future out of all three football coaching greats. Saban announced his retirement from the game, while Carroll is likely to follow in that same path, as well, at age 72.
Belichick, however, has denied speculation that he is fully retrieving himself from the gridiron, as he has been linked with coaching vacancies
‘I’ll always be a Patriot…but for now, I’m going to move on,’ said Belichick at his final press conference on Thursday, suggesting that he still wants to coach or be in an executive role with a franchise. In New England, he was De factor general manager and head coach since 2000.
Brady and Belichick hold the record for the most Super Bowl appearances by a player and head coach in NFL history
Brady only won one Super Bowl title without Belichick in 2020 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Brady and Belichick embrace after the Patriots defeat the Jaguars in the AFC title game in 2018
During his 24-year Patriots reign, the Brady–Belichick era is what stood out to fans the most. And naturally so, due to their endless list of accomplishments. Under Belichick and Brady, the Patriots played in nine Super Bowls, more than any other NFL franchise, and won a league-record six (tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers).
They also had 19 consecutive winning seasons, 17 division titles (including 11 consecutive from 2009 to 2019), 14 AFC Championship Game appearances (including eight consecutive from 2011 to 2018), and the only undefeated 16-game regular season in 2007.
The Patriots appeared in half of all Super Bowls played during Brady’s 18 seasons as the primary starter and won two-thirds of those they played in.
In addition to helping set the Patriots’ franchise records, Brady and Belichick hold the records for the most Super Bowl appearances and victories by a player and head coach, respectively. Belichick also holds the records for the most playoff wins by a head coach (31) and Super Bowl appearances by an individual (12), while Brady holds the quarterback records for career wins (264), regular season wins (230), and playoff wins (34) and the record for Super Bowl MVP awards (five).
In the aftermath of their success, Belichick was never able to replace Brady with another top-tier quarterback after experimenting with Cam Newton, Mac Jones, and Bailey Zappe. It cost his job, as the Patriots ended the season with a 4-13 record – the worst record of Belichick’s near-quarter-century tenure.
