The popularity of the New England Patriots has undeniably decreased ever since Tom Brady left it. He gave the team so many unforgettable memories throughout his career. Along with Brady, Patriots coach Bill Belichick has also contributed greatly to the team. However, there has always been a debate about whether Belichick was better with Brady or without him.
After becoming the head coach of the New York Jets for 1 day, Bill Belichick joined the Patriots in 2000. It was the same year when Tom Brady also joined the Patriots. He was the team’s 199th pick in the 6th round of the NFL draft. However, he turned out to be the best decision of the Patriots to date. But, it’s worth noting that Brady didn’t get to start until 2001.
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It’s worth noting that Belichick has an exceptional record of 136-39 with Tom Brady. This is quite outstanding for any coach, but probably it’s because of the quarterback’s terrific gameplay. The Patriots coach’s need for Brady is quite obvious from his record without him. In the absence of the NFL legend, Belichick has a terrifying record of 51-65.
The numbers make it quite clear that Belichick’s winning percentage is much higher with Tom Brady. Together, they won 219 games, made 9 Super Bowl appearances, (winning 6), and 17 AFC East titles in 20 seasons. The presence of the star quarterback powered the team to achieve great heights.
Before the Patriots, Belichick was the head coach for the Cleveland Browns from 1991 to 1995. However, his first 3 seasons as a head coach were a disaster. Tom Brady, on the other hand, was always like a helping hand to Belichick.
Was Bill Belichick the reason why Tom Brady left the New England Patriots?
When Tom Brady left the New England Patriots in 2020, it shocked all the fans. The NFL star signed a $50 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers instead. Rumors at that time suggested that things were not fine between the star quarterback and coach Belichick. Later on, in 2021, Brady’s father Thomas Brady Sr. fueled those rumors once again.
In an interview, Brady Sr. mentioned that the star player had a great time with the Patriots. He also added that the Buccaneers were quite happy to have the Hall of Famer in their team. However, he further claimed that Bill Belichick wanted Brady out of the team.
“Damn right. Belichick wanted him out the door and last year he threw [50] touchdowns. I think that’s a pretty good year,” he said.
After some time, the Patriots coach reacted to the claims of the quarterback’s father. During an interview, someone asked him whether his feelings for Tom Brady changed after 2019. While answering the question, Belichick mentioned that “it never changed”. He also revealed that the team didn’t want the 5-time Super Bowl MVP to leave.
“It never changed… Well, I think we’ve been through all of the dynamics of that… There were a lot of things there — he looked at his options and made his decision. We weren’t as good of an option as Tampa. You’d have to ask him about all that, but it wasn’t a question of not wanting him that’s for sure,” he said.
Even Bill Belichick cannot deny that there can be no one like Tom Brady. He surely was the best for the New England Patriots, and the team knows it. This is why they announced Brady as their Hall of Fame inductee for the next year.
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