Tom Brady finally admits he left New England Patriots because of Bill Belichick
NFL legend Tom Brady has confessed that the breakdown in his relationship with then-head coach Bill Belichick had a significant role in his decision to quit the New England Patriots.
Following their first Super Bowl victory together in 2001, the two famously oversaw the Patriots’ all-conquering dynasty for 18 years. From there, football’s most legendary duo worked together to win five more championships on the NFL’s biggest stage.
However, in spite of their unprecedented success, it appeared that trouble had arisen in paradise at Gillette Stadium as Brady decided to move on following their last dance in 2019. Having featured in half of the Super Bowls played over his 18 years as a starter, the quarterback shocked his sport as he signed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent.
Now, Brady has reflected on the reasons behind his decision to leave behind the franchise he became synonymous with over the previous two decades. Speaking during an episode of the Apple TV+ docuseries ‘The Dynasty’, the quarterback great gave a candid response when recalling his motivations.
“Me and Coach Belichick, we did what we loved and competed for 20 years together. But I wasn’t going to sign another contract even if I wanted to play until 50,” Brady admitted, according to The Athletic. “Based on how things had gone, I wasn’t going to sign up for more of it.”
Moreover, Patriots owner Robert Kraft also weighed in on the relationship between the New England icons, saying: “Tom [Brady] and I had a number of discussions about how Bill [Belichick] treated him. Tommy is very sensitive. He was always looking for Bill’s approval, almost in a father-son kind of way. And that’s not Bill’s style ever to give that.”
The quarterback discovered a $50 million deal waiting for him in Florida, where he eventually spent the final three years of his remarkable career. In that period, Brady tasted further success on the field, winning another Super Bowl, as Belichick struggled to inspire the Patriots to repeating their former glories.
