Bill Belichick is many things. Six-time Super Bowl champ. Nine-time AFC champ. Three-time NFL Coach of the Year. Leader of men, builder of franchises, tactical genius, master of clock management. Additionally, he also believes no one is above scrutiny.
That meant that everyone from the rookie on special teams to Tom Brady would be targeted for missed assignments, mistakes, and lapses of concentration.
It Doesn’t Matter Who You Are, Bill Will Call You Out
Belichick appeared on the LosTalksPats show and addressed his reasoning for dressing down even the saintly Tom Brady. “If I didn’t point him out, then everybody walks out there feeling like they got yelled at except for him,” Belichick said. “When I could make points to Tom, then Tom could say, ‘Hey fellas, he got after me too.’”
Bill Belichick on why he purposely called Tom Brady out during film:
“If I didn’t point him out then everybody walks out there feeling like they got yelled at except for him… When I could make points to Tom, then Tom could say, ‘Hey fellas he got after me too.’”
(🎥 @thepivot) pic.twitter.com/DB00vwXGGm
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats)
It happened regularly. Randy Moss remembered Belichick mocking Brady and “decapitating” him for missing a five-yard out. Brady had already won three Super Bowls by that point in his career.
Teammates were always surprised at how Brady was regularly singled out, but it had the desired effect. By singling out Brady, Belichick was fostering solidarity instead of division. If the superstar, MVP, and Super Bowl-winning quarterback on magazine covers could be criticized, then anyone could.
For his part, Brady never publicly complained or criticized Belichick’s approach. He always said it motivated him to improve and credits Belichick’s treatment with developing his already hyper-competitive spirit to greater heights and success.
The results can’t be argued with. The Patriot Way and Belichick’s culture of accountability produced nine Super Bowl appearances and six wins between 2001 and 2019. For his part, Brady won three NFL MVP Awards (2007, 2010, 2017). In ’17, he was the oldest recipient ever at 40.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft has said in the past that Brady craved Belichick’s approval, almost like a son. Kraft explained that Brady understood that Belichick’s style came from a place of tough love that demanded excellence.
The end finally came when Brady and Belichick moved on from each other after the 2018 season. Brady had finally felt he needed a change of scenery. However, the results of their partnership can’t be denied. A dynasty stretching 20 years isn’t anything to sneeze at.
One can only hope the players in Chapel Hill are ready for regular “decapitations.” Having been a pro coach for decades, it’ll be interesting to see how Belichick’s approach translates to the college football scene in the 2025 season.
