Debates about whether quarterback Tom Brady or head coach Bill Belichick was more “responsible” for the success the New England Patriots enjoyed during their dynastic run over the first two decades of the 2000s give certain media personalities something to discuss during what is often seen as a quiet time of the sports year.
On the latest edition of the “New Heights” podcast that was released on Wednesday, Brady addressed the topic that may never fully go away.
Tom Brady-Bill Belichick debate is “dumb”
“I think he’s the greatest head coach in terms of preparing a team to win,” Brady said about Belichick, per Brian Jones on On3. “There was nobody better. It was my privilege to play for him as his quarterback. There’s no coach I’d rather choose, and it’s a dumb analogy. It’s like, what’s more important, the left tackle or the center?”
Of course, Brady and Belichick helped the Patriots claim six Super Bowl titles from 2000 through New England’s wild-card playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans in January 2020. By the time that game wrapped up, Brady wasn’t going “to sign up for more of” playing under Belichick.
Brady ultimately joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March 2020 and then guided them to a Super Bowl championship in his first season with the organization. Meanwhile, the Brady-less Patriots failed to notch a single playoff win under Belichick from the 2020 season up until team owner Robert Kraft and Belichick publicly confirmed
on Jan. 11, 2024, that they had “mutually” agreed to part ways.
Both Tom Brady and Bill Belichick were vital to the Patriots’ Super Bowl runs
Regardless of whatever did and/or didn’t happen between Brady and Belichick during the final seasons of their working relationship, the two have since repeatedly praised each other during interviews and other media events. Thus, it’s not surprising that Brady wasn’t willing to claim that he is the most important figure in the history of the Patriots.
“There’s nobody more important to winning Monday through Saturday than the head coach,” Brady added. “There’s nobody more important on Sunday than the quarterback. Now, everybody’s important. …The quarterback just has an outsized ability to help the team win because he touches the ball so much. But I need everybody to do their job. If you have bad quarterback play, it doesn’t matter what else you do. You’re not gonna win. And if you have bad coaching, it doesn’t matter how well the players are doing, you’re gonna lose.”
One can only guess what would have become of Brady and Belichick if the Patriots didn’t select the signal-caller with the 199th overall pick of the 2000 NFL Draft. New England fans who lived through the team’s dynastic run can simply be grateful such a question will forever go unanswered.