NFL icon Tom Brady reportedly complained to teammates and staff about his former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick - but denied he had wanted Jimmy Garoppolo to be traded.
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 team owner Robert 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.
However, Brady grew weary of the intense work environment. He felt he had accomplished enough across his iconic career to be somewhat free from Belichick’s constant criticism - and Patriots staff members reportedly noticed Brady’s mentality slipping between unwavering confidence and torturous insecurity throughout the 2017 season, ESPN claimed.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion was also frustrated by Belichick’s plans to install Garoppolo as the Pats quarterback before the former Eastern Illinois signal-caller was traded to the San Francisco 49ers ahead of the 2017 season. The coach was dedicated to winning and was cautious as Brady’s longevity took him to age 40 and beyond, and Belichick questioned whether keeping the GOAT around was a wise move.
Amid speculation regarding a power struggle between the duo over whether the Patriots should keep Garoppolo and move on from their iconic quarterback, Brady denied an ESPN report that he was happy to see his former teammate traded to the 49ers. Speaking on his then-weekly radio appearance on WEEI, Brady said: “I think that is such a poor characterisation.
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“In 18 years I have never celebrated when someone has been traded, been cut. I would say that is disappointing to hear that someone would express that, or a writer would express that because it is so far from what my beliefs are about my teammates and I think I am very empathetic about other people’s experiences. I know those situations aren’t easy.”
In August 2019, Brady signed a two-year contract extension worth $70 million to keep him in New England through the 2021 season - but the terms of the contract allowed the quarterback to become a free agent after the 2019 season concluded. Belichick was also reportedly unwilling to offer the longer-term deal that Brady sought after.
Brady, who went on to win Super Bowl LV with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the 2020 season, has since become the first player to throw for 100,000 career passing yards, while Belichick passed Chicago Bears legend George Halas for the second-most career wins in NFL history. One may forever wonder what would have happened had Brady remained in Foxborough, but perhaps it worked out for the best.
