Tom Brady and Bill Belichick accomplished a great deal over their dynastic run with the New England Patriots. And during their 20-year partnership as a QB/head coach combo, the two developed a close relationship.
During an episode of his Let’s Go! podcast back in February, Brady held back tears as he explained what Belichick’s guidance meant to him.
This emotional moment recently resurfaced on social media.
Tom Brady (@TomBrady) had to hold tears when he was asked what Bill Belichick did for him.
Brady: “What did he not do to bring out the best in me? … I was very lucky.” #Patriots pic.twitter.com/ZSJNpKywNA
— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) July 3, 2023
“Tom, what did Bill do to bring out the best in you?” Brady’s co-host Jim Gray asked.
“I think it’s more what did he not do, to bring out the best in me,” Brady responded.
“We came in together,” he continued. “I always think for so many young players, anybody can get drafted to a place. Who is going to be there to turn you into something? Who is going to develop you? Who is going to take you under their wing? … I had someone that really saw something in me that not a lot of people did.”
Brady, who entered the league as the 199th overall pick in 2000, won six Super Bowls with Belichick and the Patriots. The all-time great quarterback said he “couldn’t imagine a better teacher” to have for the first two decades of his NFL career.
“I think Coach Belichick and I developed an amazing relationship,” Brady said. “Really from the moment I was drafted, but then we really started to spend a lot of time together. He started to really teach me what football was all about. He taught me how to read defenses when I was starting to play, certainly.”
“I couldn’t imagine a better teacher to say ‘Hey, this is how we’re going to play quarterback in the NFL.’” he continued “And the nuances of the game. And not only that, but his leadership, which is one of his great, great qualities. He showed up with a purpose. We would always joke (about taking) ‘no days off’. He meant it.”