After Bill Belichick, 71, revealed on Thursday that he is quitting the New England Patriots after 24 seasons as head coach, Tom Brady paid respect to the man with whom he had so much success.
With the 199th choice in the 2000 NFL Draft, Brady was selected by Belichick and the Patriots, and over the next 20 years, the two of them probably became the most formidable head coach-quarterback combination in NFL history.
Together, they won six Suρer Bowl victories, solidifying their places in NFL history as the greatest in their respective fields.
Additionally, hours after Belichick’s press conference when he declared his intention to go from New England, Brady, 46, conveyed his condolences to the former Patriots head coach.
He posted on Instagram, saying, “I’m extremely grateful to have played for the best coach in the history of the NFL.”
“He was an excellent leader for the team and every player under his tutelage. Over a lengthy period of time, we achieved some incredible things, many of which will be difficult to duplicate. He put forth a lot of effort every day to assist us win the biggest prize in the best team sport.
And even though we were successful, some of the most important lessons I ever learned came from the hardest challenges we overcame. He established the organization’s philosophy of never giving up in the face of difficulty and always doing what was within our power—that is, going out and DOING OUR JOB.
“Could never have been the player I was without you, Coach Belichick,” Brady said. I will always be appreciative. And I hope whatever you decide to do next brings you the greatest of luck.
Filling the void
With Belichick leaving New England, there is a huge void left behind, and the team is looking for its first head coach since the year 2000.However, a number of rumors suggest that Robert Kraft, the owner of the Patriots, may not be delaying his decision.As to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and The Athletic, who cited anonymous league sources on Thursday, Jerod Mayo, a former New England player and assistant coach for the Patriots since 2019, is the front-runner to succeed Belichick.
Mayo was a linebacker with the Patriots for eight seasons. He was selected to the Pro Bowl twice and won the Suρer Bowl in 2015. Since 2019, he has served as the linebackers’ coach for the New England defense.The head coach position in New England has also been connected to former Patriots player Mike Vrabel, who was dismissed earlier this week as the Tennessee Titans’ head coach.