Hartford Courant

Brady and Belichick open up about relationsh­ip on podcast

- By Andrew Callahan

In a rare offseason interview, Patriots coach Bill Belichick joined Tom Brady’s “Let’s Go” podcast to discuss Brady’s recent retirement and their 20-year partnershi­p that in New England that founded the greatest dynasty in NFL history.

Belichick reiterated his stance that Brady is the greatest player ever and again congratula­ted him on the end of his playing career.

“The greatest player, the greatest career. A great, great person. It was such an opportunit­y and an honor for me to coach Tom,” Belichick said. “I guess it’s gotta end at some point. But it’s the greatest one ever. Congratula­tions, Tom.”

Asked about their time in New England, Brady said his personal success would have been impossible were it not for Belichick. Together, they won six Super Bowls and nine

AFC Championsh­ips. Over that time, both coach and quarterbac­k were widely accepted as the all-time bests at their respective positions.

“For me, there’s nobody I’d rather be associated with,” Brady said of Belichick. “From my standpoint, I think it’s always a stupid conversati­on to say, ‘Brady versus Belichick’ because, in my mind, that’s

not what a partnershi­p is about.”

Asked about their relationsh­ip, which according to several reports became severely strained during the 2017 season and helped grease Brady’s exit in March 2020, the former quarterbac­k described it as “amazing.”

“(Belichick)’s not afraid to have a hard conversati­on,” Brady said. “And we didn’t always agree, but we always respected each other. I know he respected me for the job that I did, and I certainly did the same.”

As for his former quarterbac­k, Belichick said Brady’s top quality was making everyone around him better. He also lauded Brady, 45, for knowing exactly how to utilize his teammates’ strengths. In New England, Brady was an 18-time captain, 14-time Pro Bowler and three-time MVP.

Brady announced his second retirement from the NFL on Feb. 1, weeks after his third season with the Buccaneers. Away from New England, Brady made the playoffs in all three seasons and won a Super Bowl. With seven titles, Brady owns more Super Bowl rings than any NFL franchise; as does Belichick, who has eight rings including two he won with the Giants as their defensive coordinato­r from 19851990.

 ?? WINSLOW TOWNSON/AP ?? Patriots head coach Bill Belichick talks with quarterbac­k Tom Brady before a preseason game against the New York Giants in 2017.
WINSLOW TOWNSON/AP Patriots head coach Bill Belichick talks with quarterbac­k Tom Brady before a preseason game against the New York Giants in 2017.

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