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Who of Tom Brady or Bill Belichick will be the first to retire?

By Lou Scataglia

FOXBORO, MA - NOVEMBER 13: Head coach Bill Belichick talks with Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots before a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Gillette Stadium on November 13, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - NOVEMBER 13: Head coach Bill Belichick talks with Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots before a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Gillette Stadium on November 13, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /
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Tom Brady and Bill Belichick brought unbelievable success to the Patriots for two decades. Which will end up retiring first?  The split between the two parties came after a disappointing 2019 season in which the offense simply struggled to move the ball consistently.

Brady flew himself to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Bill Belichick signed Cam Newton then drafted Mac Jones.  We are now in year three of the split and both Brady and Belichick have had success.

With a rookie Mac Jones, the Patriots were able to go 10-7 and secure a playoff spot.  It was quite the season and was supposed to be one that the team could build on for 2022.  Since the beginning of the 2022 season. the Patriots are 15-11.  They are clearly not nearly as good of a team, but they have still played some good football.

In Brady’s first year as a Buccaneer, he led the team to a Super Bowl victory, but lost in the playoffs last year.  Now, in 2022, Brady and the Bucs look much weaker.  They are 4-5 but still somehow lead the NFC South.

The NFC is much weaker than the AFC, so a 8 or 9 win team could legitimately win a division in that conference, while it might take 10 wins just to sneak into the playoffs in the AFC.  I’ve been thinking about this question for a while.

Between Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, who is going to retire first?  We really haven’t heard many rumblings from the Patriots about Belichick hanging it up, but I do think Robert Kraft could end up wanting to move in a different direction if the Patriots cannot make the playoffs this year.

Bill Belichick’s methods, if you will, don’t seem to be working as well as they were, and his weird offensive coaching staff setup has done more harm than good.  Maybe it is time for Belichick to no longer be the head coach?

As for Tom Brady, his situation is more complicated.  He recently went through a divorce, which is a very sad thing for him and his now ex-wife and their kids.  It’s a personal issue but one that was likely caused by Brady wanting to continue playing football.

Brady is a free agent at the end of the season, and I’m sure there would be many teams bidding for his services.  Statistically speaking, he’s playing fine this year.  Would a big market team like the Giants, Jets, or even 49ers be willing to sign Tom Brady?

I don’t think he’s going to return to the Buccaneers in 2023.  To me, he either retires or plays for another team.  A reunion with the Patriots is not going to happen, but I wonder if one of the two want to get the last laugh?

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