'There's probably a learning curve for him': Tom Brady opens up about legendary coach Bill Belichick's transition to college football

Time of India

6 days ago

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick (Image Source: Getty)
Legendary quarterback Tom Brady has weighed in with his thoughts about former head coach Bill Belichick moving from the NFL to college football, providing some context of what might be in store for the new coach.
The reflections come as Belichick begins his career at the University of North Carolina (UNC), and Brady addresses the pros and cons of the jump.
Tom Brady sees Bill Belichick bringing NFL-level preparation to UNC
Belichick, Brady said, was 'the most prepared, the most hard-working coach' he had ever worked with. Brady said on The Joel Klatt Show: Big Noon Conversations.
He elaborated on the fundamentals Belichick teaches, high standards, and growing players. Brady says UNC players are getting an unprecedented chance:
Big Noon Conversations with Tom Brady premieres August 11th | Official Trailer
'What they're gonna get is obviously the most prepared, the most hard-working coach that I've ever been around.
I
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f you go to that school, you will be prepared to play at the next level. He's gonna teach the right fundamentals, the right techniques, he's gonna have high expectations for you, and you're gonna develop a lot. That's what I know. I think the challenge for him is he's probably dealing with a lot of underdeveloped players compared to what he's used to—guys who are four, five, six years further along in their development.
So there's probably a learning curve for him. They're probably just less physically developed, and he's a deep thinker of the sport. What makes Coach Belichick so unbelievable is he can break down any opponent. He watches so much film, he's so smart with how he approaches defensive schemes and offensive schemes. The interesting challenge will be: how much can these kids retain?'
The learning curve of adapting to college players
There are different obstacles for Belichick now, too, that Brady pointed out in the candid conversation.
He noted that the college players he will be coaching are typically younger and less experienced than the professional players he is used to. Having different experiences and institutional constraints, like time for practice or watching film, could create a perfect storm, making it even harder for Belichick to do Belichick things in terms of game-planning and studying tape.
Bill Belichick is famously thorough in his preparation, as well as his ability to analyze plays.
While in the NFL, he was dealing with players who had hit or were close to their peak physical and mental primes. At the college level, his challenge will be turning inexperienced players into competitive ones without them getting lost in his complex strategies and having difficulty retaining such approaches.
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After coaching in the NFL for decades, Belichick will join UNC on a reported $10 million-per-year, five-year contract, making it his first collegiate coaching gig.
His presence alone has jump-started the program, leading to an increase in funding for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), essential for luring in top recruits.
Such a bold investment reflects UNC's desire to help the Tar Heels compete at an even higher level in the ACC and beyond. To Brady, who has often given his former coach credit for his success as a player, there are only so many realms where you can transcend your limitations to be a winner, which is why he's backing the idea that Belichick would be an average coach in college football.
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