Tom Brady formed many notable on-field connections throughout his legendary career, but it took some time for teammates to get into the quarterback’s good graces.
Before the New England Patriots celebrate Brady on Sunday, some players reflected on their early relationship with the seven-time Super Bowl champion. Former wide receiver Wes Welker said it wasn’t easy forming a bond with the fierce competitor when joining New England in 2007.
“I think the first year, I was kind of sick of him,” Welker told Henry McKenna of FOX Sports. “We’re just trying to get on the same page with everything. There’s a lot of conversation, a lot of cussing and stuff like that. And I think over time — us getting on the same page and having those real conversations and everything else — [it] made me a better football player. … Even though it was rough early on, I think we gained a mutual respect for each other.”
“It definitely started off rocky. Definitely started off with him swearing at me, telling me he’s never gonna throw me the ball again,” @RobGronkowski told @NFLonFOX. 🤣🤣
Gronk, @Edelman11, Wes Welker on being @TomBrady’s best friends. And on saying bye https://t.co/BJcAegbmrb
— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) September 10, 2023
Despite an arduous feeling-out process, the duo quickly gelled on the field. Welker began his Patriots tenure by catching 112 of 145 targets for 1,175 yards and eight touchdowns. He was essential to a historic offense that produced the first 16-0 season in NFL history.
The wideout collected 903 receptions for 7,459 yards and 37 scores over six scores. He added 686 receiving yards in eight playoff games.
Welker wasn’t the only one who needed to earn Brady’s trust. Rob Gronkowski told McKenna that their time together “definitely started off rocky.”
“Definitely started off with him swearing at me, telling me he’s never gonna throw me the ball again,” Gronkowski said.
Welker eventually established a rapport with Brady on and off the field. He called it difficult to leave the icon for another when joining Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos in 2013.
“That was probably the hardest part of leaving — the friendships made, and especially with Tom and the chemistry that we’d built over those six years together,” Welker said. “It’s never easy to make those decisions and, to me, that was the hardest part of that decision.”
Now a receivers coach for the Miami Dolphins, Welker won’t attend Sunday’s ceremony for Brady at Foxborough when the Patriots host the Philadelphia Eagles.