New England Patriots, quarterback Tom Brady opened up about making the difficult decision to leave the team after 20 seasons. Joined by Patriots owner Robert Kraft and former head coach Bill Belichick, the trio reflected on the moment when Brady broke the news to them, leaving both Kraft and Belichick in tears.
The emotional clip, released ahead of the finale episode airing on Apple TV+, showed Brady, now 46, recalling the conversation when he told Kraft and Belichick that he had “decided to move on.” Kraft, now 82, recalled the moment and shared that Brady “started crying” as soon as he made the announcement. The owner added, “His crying told me everything I needed to know.”
Brady then shared his thoughts about the conversation, saying that he and Kraft discussed calling Belichick. In his confessional, Brady revealed that he expressed the feeling of “a chapter coming to an end” to both Kraft and Belichick. The quarterback tearfully admitted that “saying goodbye is always hard,” but he ultimately felt that he made the “right and best decision.”
The clip also showed Belichick’s perspective on the conversation. The 71-year-old head coach said that he “expected” the emotional moment, adding that “saying goodbye is hard.” Nevertheless, Belichick stated that he believes Brady made the right decision in leaving the team.
According to The Athletic, The Dynasty is “the most comprehensive view yet” of the strained relationship between Belichick and his former players, including Brady, towards the end of his tenure with the team. In an episode of the series, Brady admitted that despite his 20 years of competition and camaraderie with Belichick, he was “not going to sign another contract even if [he] wanted to play until [he was] 50.” The quarterback added that he wasn’t willing to “sign up for more” of the situation he had experienced in the past.
Brady’s demand for a two-year, $50 million contract after the 2019-2020 season was reportedly not met by the Patriots. As a result, the now-retired quarterback became a free agent and joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March 2020 for the same amount.
In January, Belichick also parted ways with the Patriots after 24 years, saying, “This is a day of gratitude and celebration.” He added, “I’ll always be a Patriot.” Belichick, who holds the record for the most Super Bowl victories and appearances by a head coach, thanked the team for his successful tenure.
Gisele Bundchen tears up while reflecting on her split from Tom Brady in an emotional interview with Robin Roberts. pic.twitter.com/fL4VzHfGjn
— Access Hollywood (@accesshollywood) March 7, 2024
After Belichick’s departure was made official, Brady took to Instagram to honor his former coach. The quarterback, who had previously called Belichick “the best coach in the history of the NFL,” expressed his gratitude for his time in New England. Brady also thanked Belichick for shaping him into the player he became.
The emotional recount of Brady’s decision to leave the Patriots will surely tug at the heartstrings of loyal fans. The 10-part series, which chronicles the successful and tumultuous journey of the New England Patriots, has given viewers an inside look at the dynamics between Brady, Belichick, and Kraft. With the finale episode set to air on Apple TV+, fans are eagerly awaiting to see how the series concludes and what other emotional moments are in store.
