Brady clinched six Super Bowl championships with the team under the guidance of coach Bill Belichick.
In a forthcoming documentary about the NFL dynasty, Tom Brady sheds more light on his departure from the New England Patriots. The 10-part series, titled “The Dynasty: New England Patriots,” is scheduled to debut on Friday on Apple TV+.
According to The Athletic, Brady, along with several former Patriots players, discusses the challenging conditions under former head coach Bill Belichick, which played a role in Brady’s decision to leave the franchise after two decades. Brady, now 46, expresses his sentiments in the documentary, stating, “Me and coach Belichick, we did what we loved and competed for 20 years together. But I wasn’t going to sign another contract [in New England] even if I wanted to play until [I was] 50. Based on how things had gone, I wasn’t going to sign up for more of it.”
Former players share their experiences of playing under Belichick, with former Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater describing it as “brutal” in the documentary. Rob Gronkowski, former Patriots tight end, reveals his reluctance to attend practice, while Wes Welker likens Brady’s treatment by the team to that of an abused animal.
The documentary, as described by The Athletic, offers a comprehensive view of the strained relationship between Belichick and his former players, including Brady, towards the end of his tenure with the team.
Following the 2019-2020 season, Brady reportedly sought a two-year contract worth $50 million, which the Patriots declined to offer. Consequently, Brady became a free agent and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the same amount in March 2020.
Brady’s move to the Buccaneers resulted in his seventh Super Bowl title, sparking debates among sports pundits regarding the credit for the Patriots’ dynasty, whether it should be attributed to Brady, Belichick, or both.
Upon Belichick’s departure from the Patriots, Brady expressed gratitude for their time together, acknowledging Belichick as “the best coach in the history of the NFL” in an Instagram tribute post.
Brady retired from the NFL in February, expressing appreciation to fans, teammates, coaches, and his family for enabling him to pursue his dream. He concluded, “I wouldn’t change a thing.”
