Tom Brady Admits There Was ‘Tension’ with Bill Belichick That Led to Patriots Exit

*Michael Reaves/Getty Images; Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images Bill Belichick; Tom Brady*

Tom Brady shared new insight into his longtime relationship with Bill Belichick.

In his weekly newsletter, Brady, 47, reflected on his departure from the New England Patriots in 2020 and how it affected his relationship with former coach Belichick, 72.

"I was only involved in free agency once, at the tail-end of my career, when free agency means something very different than it does for a backup coming off a disappointing season or a young guy coming off the last year of his rookie deal," Brady wrote in the newsletter published on Monday, March 24.

"For me, it was a creeping decision that lived passively in the back of mind for 2-3 years until March of 2020 when a whirlwind of a few days made me realize that a decision was coming sooner rather than later," Brady continued.

Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Bill Belichick and Tom Brady — Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty
Bill Belichick and Tom Brady

"The reality was, after twenty years together, a natural tension had developed between where Coach Belichick and I were headed in our careers, and where the Patriots were moving as a franchise. It was the kind of tension that could only be resolved by some kind of split or one of us reassessing our priorities," the former professional footballer noted.

The tension between Brady, Belichick and the Patriots reportedly began when the former quarterback sought a two-year contract worth $50 million after the 2019-2020 season, which the Patriots were unwilling to offer. Instead, Brady became a free agent and joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for that exact price in March 2020.

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In Apple TV+ series, The Dynasty: New England Patriots, Brady and several former Patriots said the conditions under his former head coach had become "brutal" before he left New England.

*Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Tom Brady and Bill Belichick*

“Me and coach Belichick, we did what we loved and competed for 20 years together,” Brady said in the documentary. “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.”

When Belichick left the Patriots in January 2024, Brady penned a thoughtful tribute post on Instagram, calling him "the best coach in the history of the NFL.”

“I could never have been the player I was without you Coach Belichick,” Brady said in the post. “I am forever grateful."

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