Bill Belichick Responds to Tom Brady Leaving the Patriots With Heartfelt Statement

The unthinkable has become reality in New England, as Tom Brady confirmed that he will not play the 2020 season as a member of the Patriots after two decades of stardom.

Head coach Bill Belichick, the only coach Brady has ever known in his pro career, put out a short statement thanking Tom for his years of service, calling him a "special person" and the "greatest quarterback of all time."

Bill Belichick via statement: "Sometimes in life, it takes some time to pass before truly appreciating something or someone but that has not been the case with Tom. He is a special person and the greatest quarterback of all-time."
— Ryan Hannable (@RyanHannable) March 17, 2020

Belichick's career will forever be intertwined with Brady, considering each of his nine Super Bowl appearances and six wins as a head coach came with TB12 under center.

Brady might have regressed last season, considering his 88.0 passer rating was his worst since 2006, but the entire fanbase wanted No. 12 back in New England. Unfortunately, be it because of money or the direction the franchise was headed in, Brady deemed that he wasn't up for season No. 21 in New England.

Statements from #Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft and Head Coach Bill Belichick on Tom Brady's Patriots career: https://t.co/DFmmbzAIdo pic.twitter.com/flVpDFB4HJ
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) March 17, 2020

Brady will forever be a god in Massachusetts, but with his championships in place and legacy secure, there isn't much New England, or any other team, can offer him other than paychecks. Brady might have decided to leave Foxborough for greener pastures, but he'll always be a Patriot through and through.