Tom Brady Says He ‘Could Never Have Been the Player I Was’ Without Bill Belichick After Coach Leaves Patriots

The G.O.A.T. is recognizing the coaching G.O.A.T.!

In a heartfelt tribute to his former coach on Instagram, Tom Brady is saluting Bill Belichick, the longtime New England Patriots coach who announced Thursday he was parting ways with the team after 24 seasons.

“I’m incredibly grateful to have played for the best coach in the history of the NFL,” Brady, 46, wrote about Belichick, his coach for 18 seasons.

Brady continued, “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 us achieve the ultimate goal, in the ultimate team sport.”

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With Brady as his quarterback, Belichick, 71, led the team to six Super Bowl championships, 17 AFC East titles and 30 playoff victories.

Nearly one year to the day of his NFL retirement, Brady reflected on both the high points and the low moments of his collaboration with the legendary coach, who he played for from 2001 to 2019.

“And, although we were successful, some of the greatest lessons I learned were in the moments where we faced the most challenging adversities,” Brady wrote. “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.”

In September, the father of three revisited his years in New England when he returned to Foxboro for an emotional ceremony in which his No. 12 jersey was retired by the team.

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The seven-time Super Bowl champion, who won his final ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021, said he’ll “never take for granted” the moments he shared with the Patriots organization, and specifically his “teammates, family, friends, coaches, and most importantly, all the fans of Patriot Nation.”

Brady continued at the time, “We won a whole lot of games up here… and believe it or not we had a whole lot of fun doing it. I’m so lucky to have been a New England Patriot. Foxboro Forever.”

On Thursday, the iconic quarterback — who is scheduled to debut as the lead analyst on Fox Sports later this year — saved his highest praise for the legendary coach.

“I could never have been the player I was without you Coach Belichick,” he wrote. “I am forever grateful. And I wish you the best of luck in whatever you choose next.”