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The New England Patriots continue to unravel without Tom Brady.
Following 19 straight winning seasons, the Patriots went 25-25 in their first three years after the star quarterback left. That’s not including their disastrous 2-8 start to 2023.
Bill Belichick has faced enhanced scrutiny for the team’s struggles. Yet Brady praised his former head coach when talking to Stephen A. Smith about his old team.
“I think he’s an incredible coach. He’s the best coach, in my belief, in the history of the game,” Brady said of Belichick, via WEEI’s Mike Kadlick. “The thought of him not being in New England is hard for me to think about.”
Tom Brady on Bill Belichick and the current state of the #Patriots (via @stephenasmith Show):
“I think he’s an incredible coach. He’s the best coach, in my belief, in the history of the game.
So, I mean, I don’t know, the thought of him not being in New England is hard for me… pic.twitter.com/9E5Osi9wRh
— Mike Kadlick (@mikekadlick) November 20, 2023
Brady noted the small margin between NFL success and failure and said it takes more than one person to excel.
“I don’t think he’s probably coaching much different now than when we’re undefeated in 2007,” Brady continued. “I’m sure he’s preparing the team the same way. The results are different, but again, that’s why the sport is so challenging.
There’s a lot of reasons why teams win or lose.”
Many onlookers have concluded from Belichick’s recent difficulties that Brady deserves more credit for New England’s dynasty. While Brady wasn’t talking about himself, he noted that the quarterback and players have a large impact on the field.
“The head coach is a very small part on game day,” Brady said. “The quarterback plays a really big part on game day. Not the entire thing, but because you touch the ball, you have a big opportunity to impact the game.”
It seemed unfathomable for Brady to ever wear a different uniform before closing his career on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The question is whether Belichick’s lengthy tenure in New England will also end soon
Brady won’t be the only one who can’t picture the Patriots firing Belichick, but the Patriots will return from their Week 11 bye with the AFC’s worst record. They’ll play their next game against an opponent Brady knows all too well, the New York Giants.