Tom Brady Discusses Why He, Bill Belichick Couldn’t Continue Together After 2019 Season

In the spring of 2020, football's greatest player voluntarily walked away from its greatest dynasty and coach. 

The divorce between then-New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick spurred rampant public speculation, a Super Bowl run for Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a best-selling book, and now, a docuseries.

The Dynasty will premiere Friday on Apple TV+, and early returns on the show offer searing insight into how completely Brady and Belichick's relationship had deteriorated by the late 2010s.

“Me and coach Belichick, we did what we loved and competed for 20 years together,” Brady said, quoted in a review by Chad Graff of The Athletic. “But I wasn’t going to sign another contract (with the Patriots) even if I wanted to play until (I was) 50. Based on how things had gone, I wasn’t going to sign up for more of it.”

Graff wrote that Belichick's coaching style was depicted as "dictatorial" in the show, with longtime wide receiver Wes Welker "(comparing) Brady to an abused dog for continually going back to work for Belichick."

Belichick parted ways with New England on Jan. 11 following a 29-39 record over four years without Brady between the regular season and playoffs.