Tom Brady, widely regarded as the greatest player in NFL history, revealed on Monday that his departure from the New England Patriots in 2020 was due to tensions with head coach Bill Belichick, with whom he won six Super Bowl rings.

"After twenty years together, a tension developed in the direction that Coach Belichick and I were taking in our careers. It was the kind of tension that could only be resolved through separation," said the 47-year-old former quarterback and future Hall of Famer.

The Broken Relationship With Bill Belichick

Brady, who retired at the end of the 2022 season after three years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning his seventh Super Bowl ring, reflected on how his relationship with the coach deteriorated. Belichick had brought Brady to the Patriots as a sixth-round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft.

"It was a decision that lingered in my mind for two or three years until, in March 2020, a whirlwind of emotions made me realize that separation would come sooner rather than later, as it ultimately did," Brady explained.

Brady's Free Agency Experience

The 15-time Pro Bowler shared his experience of leaving New England and becoming a free agent, a status he experienced only once in his career. He described it as a complicated process.

"I was only a free agent once, at the end of my career. I know free agency was very different for me than for a backup player coming off a disappointing season or a young player finishing the final year of their rookie contract," he said.

The Importance of Making the Right Decisions

Brady, now a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, emphasized that free agency tests a player's maturity, as a single decision can determine the rest of their career for better or worse.

"The challenge is figuring out your priorities. Over the years, I've seen many good players make mistakes by not having clear priorities. Some chased money and ended up on teams that didn't suit them. Others rushed their decisions and found themselves in situations without the best opportunities for success," Brady noted.

Tom Brady's Legacy

The five-time Super Bowl MVP stressed that these decisions must be grounded in what each player is willing to sacrifice to achieve success.

"It's a hard truth to accept for those who have ambition but lack success. It's difficult to recognize that your decisions reflect what you're willing to do to turn your dreams into reality. It's easier to make excuses than to admit that maybe you're afraid or lazy, or that what you truly value is safety, protection, and comfort," he concluded.