Tom Brady heaped praise on Bill Belichick and refused to close the door on a reunion with the New England Patriots when his contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers expires at the end of the season.
The 45-year-old is currently in the last year of his deal with Buccaneers and there is plenty of speculation regarding what he might do next. Brady will be a free agent and could hold off retirement for another season, although he has his post-NFL plans already in place after he inked a 10-year contract worth $375 million to become the lead analyst for FOX Sports.
If he decides to extend his illustrious career, Brady will have plenty of suitors with the San Francisco 49ers reportedly interested in his services. However, speculation is mounting that the seven-time Super Bowl champion could opt for an unbelievable reunion with former coach Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots.
During Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Rams, Brady became the first player in NFL history to throw for over 100,000 career passing yards. It’s a remarkable achievement that not only highlights the GOAT’s longevity, but also his devastating success given he is over 14,000 yards clear of former New Orleans Saints star Drew Brees, who lies in second.
Belichick - whose Patriots moved to 5-4 with a 26-3 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday - appeared on The Greg Hill Show and commented on Brady’s historic achievement. The 70-year-old said: “I don’t even know how far 100,000 yards is…must be a long way. I don’t know how many miles… I have no idea. That’s a great accomplishment.”
On his weekly SiriusXM show ‘Let’s Go!’ with co-host Jim Gray, Brady listened to the clip of Belichick marvelling over his astonishing milestone. The iconic quarterback then returned the favour, and admitted he still watches the Patriots every week.
“We had 20 years together of elite football experience that I wouldn't have traded for anything in the world,” said Brady. “And I know he’s a great competitor.
“What an amazing coach he is and how he prepares the team to win. He’s just done it year in and year out - and the fact that he’s 22 wins away from an amazing milestone, I have no doubt he’s gonna get it.
“And I just watch that team evert week and [am] impressed by how they prepare and the accountability that that organisation has had. It always starts at the top.”
No NFL coach demands more of his players than defensive mastermind Belichick, who took over the franchise back in 2000. His no-nonsense, business-like approach meshed well with Brady’s unrelenting dedication to his craft, creating the most successful quarterback-head coach tandem as the Patriots dynasty took hold.
The Pats dynasty - fuelled by the trifecta of Brady, Belichick and owner Bob Kraft - is regarded as one of the greatest in sports history. New England reached the Super Bowl on nine occasions, winning six championships during that period as well as 16 AFC East division titles.
There was plenty of speculation surrounding the relationship between Belichick and Brady when his 20-year career with the Patriots came to an end in 2020. However, the duo clearly respect and admire one another as Brady recently praised Belichick for passing Chicago Bears legend George Halas for the second-most head coach wins in NFL history.
Many wonder if a reunion between Brady and Belichick is even possible, as well as what would happen to starting quarterback Mac Jones. Jones - selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft - could learn a lot from Brady, particularly how to read defences.
The Bucs are preparing to play the Seattle Seahawks in Munich as the first International Series clash in Germany takes place on Sunday before their much-needed bye week. The Patriots are currently on their bye and they will next play against the New York Jets on November 20.
