Belichick on Tom Brady: Patriots Appreciation Night Not Enough for What QB Deserves

Tom Brady will be in attendance for the New England Patriots first game of the season, when they host the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles, for the team's Appreciation Night.

And as head coach Bill Belichick told The Greg Hill Show on Audacy's WEEI 93.7, one night isn't enough to match Brady's accomplishments during his time in New England (22:35 mark):

"What a great experience and opportunity it was for me to coach Tom. Tremendous appreciation for everything he did for me, did for our team, everything he gave us. ... I'm sure there will be a lot of excitement at the game, in the stands, as there should be. He's done an awful lot for this organization, this franchise, this city and the National Football League. One night's probably really not enough, nowhere close to being enough for what Tom deserves."

All Brady did during his 20 years in New England was accumulate a 219-64 record in the regular season, reach the playoffs 17 times, win the Super Bowl six times in nine tries, get picked for 14 Pro Bowls, win three MVP awards and earn three first-team All-Pro selections.

In other words, all he did was compile a resume that many believe makes him the greatest quarterback of all time and arguably the greatest player in the history of the NFL, period.

And then he went to Tampa Bay and won a seventh Super Bowl with the Buccaneers. Ho hum.

With Brady now retired from the NFL, a return to Foxboro only made sense. So it wasn't a huge surprise when team chairman and CEO Robert Kraft announced back in May on NFL Network that the Pats would bring him back to start the 2023 season, the "beginning of many celebrations to honor" the future Hall of Famer:

Brady has been busy in retirement, becoming part owner of a number of sporting franchises, including the Las Vegas Raiders and Aces and Birmingham City Football Club.

The 46-year-old will also join Fox Sports as a color commentator for NFL games starting in 2024 after signing a reported 10-year, $375 million deal with the network.

So Brady won't be idle in retirement. But he's making time for a reunion with the Patriots to start the 2023 season, and the reception should be more than welcoming for the franchise legend.