Bill Belichick remains a charter member of the Tom Brady admiration society, and the New England Patriots’ head coach made it clear in a statement congratulating his longtime quarterback on retirement.
“I am privileged to have drafted and coached Tom Brady, the ultimate competitor and winner. Tom’s humble beginning in professional football ultimately ended with him becoming the best player in NFL history,” Belichick said in the statement.
Brady and Belichick teamed for a QB-coach record nine Super Bowl appearances and six victories, the first of which came after the 2001 season when Brady was thrust into action for an injured Drew Bledsoe.
After 20 seasons with the Patriots and simmering tensions around Brady’s use of a private trainer, input over the offensive system and salary, he exited New England and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the 2020 campaign. In his first season with the Bucs, he guided his team to yet another Super Bowl victory, his record-setting seventh Lombardi Trophy.
“Tom consistently performed at the highest level against competition that always made him the number one player to stop,” Belichick said in the statement. “His pursuit of excellence was inspirational. Tom was professional on and off the field, and carried himself with class, integrity and kindness. I thank Tom for his relentless pursuit of excellence and positive impact on me and the New England Patriots for 20 years.”
The Patriots said Belichick was traveling on Tuesday when Brady’s nine-part Instagram goodbye was posted without a mention of the Patriots, Belichick or owner Robert Kraft.
Brady since replied to a Patriots’ social media post thanking New England, and past teammates from Julian Edelman to Rob Gronkowski, who teamed with Brady in New England and Tampa, were among the legion of admirers to offer Brady congratulations.
“Tommy Boy!!! This football journey with you has been nothing short of special,” Gronkowski tweeted of their 11 seasons as teammates.
“Thank you for your dedication to the game, putting the team in the best possible position to win every year, all the records that were broken, the Super Bowls, the memories, and your friendship through the last 12 years.
“If you commit even just 10% of what you committed to football in whatever you do next, you will be super duper successful. I witnessed greatness for so many years and got to learn from the best to ever do it. You’re a legend and always will be.”
–Field Level Media