Despite all of their success together, it’s not often that you hear Bill Belichick gush about Tom Brady like this.
Speaking to the media ahead of what could the first of many Brady-related honors, the Patriots HC expressed how lucky he feels to have coached Tom and he looks forward to seeing him in Week 1.
What a great opportunity it was for me to coach Tom. Tremendous appreciation for everything he did for our team, everything he gave us. … He’s done an awful lot for this organization, for this franchise, for this city, the National Football League. One night’s really not enough, anywhere close to being enough for the appreciation for what Tom deserves. … Great players make great coaches, and I’ve been very fortunate.
Bill Belichick’s full quote on the Patriots honoring Tom Brady in Week 1.
Needless to say, Belichick thinks pretty highly of the ex-Patriots QB. pic.twitter.com/BwxTVZuEQv
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) August 21, 2023
Belichick was later asked if Brady deserves a statue. To which the six-time Super Bowl champ laughed: “Give him whatever you want. Yeah.”
The Patriots are honoring their future Hall of Fame quarterback at their season opening game vs. the Eagles Sept. 10. In a statement on the upcoming celebration, owner Robert Kraft said:
I’m thinking that the NFL is over a century old and 20 percent of those years of the NFL, the greatest player in the history of the game played right here in Foxborough. And I’m happy to tell you … that I invited him back to come here and be with us at the opening game and let the fans in New England thank him for the great service he gave us for over 20 years.
That Sunday will mark the first time he returns to Gillette Stadium on the home side of the field since leaving for Tampa Bay in 2020.