Tom Brady Found This ‘Difficult’ About Bill Belichick’s Coaching Style

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick came together for 20 seasons with the New England Patriots and spearheaded the greatest dynasty in NFL history.

But Brady and Belichick approached their jobs in different ways.

Brady recently discussed that very subject along with other leadership topics with Harvard Business Review’s Nitin Nohrin. The legendary quarterback even opened up about why it could be tough at times, even for him, to play under Belichick’s rule.

“We all felt fortunate to play for him, and there were many benefits to his approach, but his motivational style — often based on fear — was sometimes difficult,” Brady said. “So as a team leader, I tried to complement that approach by being a bit more upbeat.”

It’s clear that by the time Brady got into his last couple of seasons with the Patriots, Belichick’s cold and win-at-all-costs mindset created friction between the two. It had to have played a part in Brady moving on from the Patriots and finishing his illustrious career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Brady understood why Belichick oftentimes didn’t get close to players since the all-time coach also oversaw the franchise’s personnel and might have to trade or cut a player. On the other hand, Brady tried to get to know his teammates on a personal level no matter their stature.

The way Brady and Belichick went about things proved to be ultra-successful as the two combined to win six Super Bowls while with the Patriots. And while there might have been tension in their relationship, that doesn’t look like it lasted with Brady now in retirement and Belichick almost forced there after not getting a head coaching job this past offseason after parting ways with the Patriots.

Belichick was in attendance at Brady’s unprecedented Patriots Hall of Fame ceremony in June and Brady made sure there was no doubt about his true feelings for Belichick by saying “there is no coach in the world I would rather play for.”

“I like to think my style complemented coach Belichick’s,” Brady said. “I was lucky to play for a coach who was so smart, hardworking, and focused on discipline — a coach who relentlessly held people accountable for doing their job. He was fortunate to have someone like me who could recognize where the team was at emotionally, rally the troops, and pull people together.”