No quarterback-coach duo in NFL history has been as successful as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, who won six Super Bowls together, along with an incredible 17 divisional titles in the last 19 seasons.
On Tuesday, one day before he becomes an unrestricted free agent, Brady announced that his “football journey will take place elsewhere,” bringing an end to his unparalleled run in Foxborough.
After the news broke, Patriots owner Robert Kraft and coach Belichick paid tribute to Brady by releasing statements – and Belichick’s reflection on Brady’s accomplishments may cause some Patriots fans to get teary-eyed.
“Tom and I will always have a great relationship built on love, admiration, respect and appreciation…. Examples of Tom’s greatness are limitless, going back even before he was drafted. We witnessed how he prepared when he wasn’t playing, how he performed when he got his opportunity, what he did to continuously improve, his leadership, his mindset, the example he set, and, of course, the person he is. I am extremely grateful for what he did for our team and for me personally.
Sometimes in life, it takes some time to pass before truly appreciating something or someone but that has not been the case with Tom. He is a special person and the greatest quarterback of all-time.”
Statements from #Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft and Head Coach Bill Belichick on Tom Brady's Patriots career: https://t.co/DFmmbzAIdo pic.twitter.com/flVpDFB4HJ
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) March 17, 2020
In Kraft’s statement, the Patriots owner said he looks forward to welcoming Brady back to New England after his career has ended to celebrate his legacy.
“There simply will never be another Tom Brady. I now look forward to the day we can bring him back home to New England to celebrate his Patriots career, his endless achievements and his legacy as the greatest of all time. I love him very much.”
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