A leaked email from Bill Belichick, shared by his girlfriend Jordon Hudson, has drawn commentary from longtime Boston sports analyst Bill Simmons regarding the former coach's relationship with Tom Brady. Simmons believes the email sheds light on the reasons for the eventual split between the two figures who defined the Patriots dynasty.
Hudson posted a screenshot of an email Belichick sent concerning the marketing strategy for his upcoming book, "The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football." The email followed a CBS interview that garnered public attention.
In the email, Belichick emphasized his role in the team's growth, stating the book should present his professional life and how he led "an organization that grew from a $500 million franchise to an $8 billion organization that played in 10 and won 6 Super Bowls over 25 years."
Speaking on “The Bill Simmons Podcast”, Bill Simmons said this focus on the financial valuation and his personal contribution was revealing. He contrasted it with the public perception of the "Patriot Way" being solely about winning Super Bowls with no emphasis on individual credit.
Simmons noted that while the public debate often centered on whether Belichick or Brady was more responsible for the success, the correct answer was always that they needed each other. However, he suggested the email indicated that both men likely felt they were more responsible than the other.
This perceived internal conflict over credit, Simmons stated, explained why Brady did not re-sign with the Patriots in 2020.
He added that Belichick's apparent focus on credit and valuation made him think the coach must have been upset when Brady won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his first season away from New England.
Belichick coached the Patriots for four more seasons after Brady's departure before the team announced they had parted ways. Belichick later agreed to become the head coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Despite the reported friction that led to Brady's exit, the quarterback offered praise for his former coach during his Patriots Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
"To Coach Belichick, thank you for your tireless commitment to develop and push me to be my very best," Brady said in June 2024. "It wasn’t me, it wasn’t you, it was us. Our hard work, our love of the game, and the way we worked for one another, that’s what it was all about. Let me make this crystal clear: There is no coach in the world I would rather play for than Bill Belichick."
