Report: Brady, Belichick had 'blowup' over contract in 2017
Tom Brady's "blowup" with Bill Belichick in late 2017 over the quarterback's contract helped precipitate his eventual exit from the New England Patriots, a source told Seth Wickersham of ESPN.
The alleged exchange occurred months after the Patriots erased a 25-point deficit in Super Bowl LI to defeat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime for their fifth championship.
Brady, who had informed the Patriots he wanted to play into his mid-40s, reportedly sought an extension that would allow him to finish his career in New England. After experiencing resistance from the club, he met with his head coach to gain clarity on the situation, and that's when the argument reportedly occurred.
Following that meeting, Brady reportedly visited with Patriots owner Robert Kraft, which is when he felt mixed signals.
The future Hall of Famer received a modified contract from the Patriots in August 2018 that included more incentive opportunities. He led the team to another Super Bowl title in the ensuing season, but the veteran didn't hit on the bonuses.
In August 2019, Brady reworked his deal into a three-year pact that automatically voided after the first season. He became a free agent for the first time in March 2020 and signed a two-year agreement with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
There was known tension between Brady and Belichick over the last two decades. Their most heavily reported disagreement revolved around the presence of Alex Guerrero, Brady's trainer and the co-creator of the "TB12" brand.
Brady and Belichick formed the winningest quarterback-coach tandem in NFL history.