Tom Brady will return to Gillette Stadium this season as the New England Patriots get set to honor their legendary quarterback.
According to his old coach, it’s a good start.
During his Monday appearance on WEEI, Bill Belichick was asked about the Patriots’ plans to honor Brady following his (second and seemingly permanent) retirement earlier this year. The longtime Patriots coach did not hold back in his praise of the retired quarterback.
“Look forward to seeing him. And I’m sure there will ll be a lot of excitement at the game in the stands, as it should be. He’s done an awful lot for this organization, this franchise, this city, the National Football League. I mean, one night’s probably really not enough, anywhere close to being enough, for appreciation for what Tom deserves.”
WEEI hosts then asked whether the Patriots should put a statue of Brady outside the stadium. Belichick responded with his usual dry humor, but didn’t seem to shut down the idea.
“Give him whatever you want. Yeah,” Belichick said.
The 46-year-old Brady officially announced his retirement back in February, following two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The seven-time Super Bowl champ is now shifting his focus to various off-field business ventures, like his TB12 sports training business and his BRADY brand clothing line. Brady has also lined up ownership stakes in teams like the Las Vegas Raiders and English soccer club Birmingham City.
There’s also that $375 million gig to call games on FOX (which he isn’t expected to start until 2024).
Brady last visited Gillette as an opponent when the Buccaneers came to down during the 2020 season. But when he returns ahead of the Week 1 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Brady will be honored for his contributions as a Patriot.
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Belichick, for one, is plenty appreciative of what Brady has done and thinks highly of where the former quarterback is heading.
“I’ve spoken to Tom a couple times. Always looking forward to seeing Tom,” Belichick said. “What a great experience and opportunity it was for me to coach Tom Tremendous appreciation for everything he did for me, did for our team, everything he gave us. Look forward to seeing him. Sounds like he’s moving on to a very successful career in broadcasting and whatever else he decides to do. He’s pretty talented guy. I’m sure he’ll do well in whatever he chooses to do, whatever area that is.
Belichick followed that up by echoing a point he’s made in the past, saying that he’s had the good fortune to coach who he thinks are the best players in their particular phase of the game.
“Yeah, it was a great opportunity for me. I feel very fortunate to have coached Tom, Lawrence Taylor, Matt Slater. There’s three top players at their position – offense, defense, special teams – that I think, in the history of the game,” Belichick said. “I feel pretty lucky as a coach. Great players make great coaches and I’ve very fortunate. Now there’s been a lot of other great players along the way, too. I’m not taking anything away from anybody else. But those three are special.
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