Tom Brady Affirms Bill Belichick as the Greatest Coach in NFL History Following His Departure from the Patriots
Tom Brady pays heartfelt tribute to legendary coach Bill Belichick following his departure from the New England Patriots, acknowledging him as the unparalleled 'Best Coach in NFL History'
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Tom Brady and Bill Belichick will forever be New England Patriots royalty — even if neither one is part of the organization.
On Thursday, January 11, Brady, 46, expressed his gratitude for having had the opportunity to play for the greatest coach in NFL history via Instagram. This comes after the Patriots announced that Belichick, 71, is retiring as the team's head coach. Brady, who served as the Patriots' quarterback for twenty years, praised his former coach as a "remarkable leader for both the organization and all the players who had the privilege of playing under him."
The retired athlete stated that they achieved incredible feats over a lengthy period, some of which may be difficult to duplicate. They emphasized the daily effort put in to help the team reach the ultimate goal in a team sport. Despite their success, they admitted that the most valuable lessons were learned during the most difficult times. Brady also credited Belichick for establishing a mindset within the organization to never give up in the face of adversity and to focus on doing their best in their control - which was to simply do their job.
Brady, widely regarded as the greatest quarterback of all time, paid tribute to Belichick, admitting, "I could never have achieved the level of success without you, Coach Belichick. I am eternally grateful. Wishing you the best in your future endeavors."
Before parting ways, Patriots chairman and CEO Robert Kraft and Belichick held a joint press conference to announce their mutual decision. Belichick expressed his gratitude for his former coaching staff, players, and Kraft, 82, for their dedication and support throughout his career.
"I will always be a Patriot and look forward to returning here. However, for now, we are moving on," Belichick informed reporters. "I am enthusiastic about the future."
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Kraft expressed that today holds a lot of emotion for him, stating that "some of my happiest and most memorable moments were celebrated with my family during Bill’s time here." He described Belichick’s departure as the “end of an era, one that will always be celebrated in this region.”
During his tenure as the head coach of the New England Patriots from 2000 to 2023, Belichick achieved an unmatched legacy in the NFL, leading the team to six Super Bowl victories, the most in NFL history. Under his leadership, the Patriots also won nine AFC championship games and made 13 appearances in the Super Bowl, a total of nine Super Bowl appearances, setting yet another record.
Belichick's unparalleled success with the Patriots was closely tied to Brady, who took over as the team's starting quarterback in 2000. Brady led the team to six Super Bowl titles during his time with the organization before departing in 2020 after two decades.
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Brady went on to play three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — and won his seventh Super Bowl ring — before retiring for good ahead of the 2023 season.
Belichick has had experience as an assistant coach and coordinator for various NFL teams such as the New York Giants, the New York Jets, and the Patriots before taking on the role of head coach. His future plans have not yet been revealed.
