Sports Bromances: Player/Coach Edition

Teammates make up the majority of sports bromances, but let’s not forget about the Tom Brady and Bill Belichicks of the world.  

The player/coach bromance is rooted in mutual respect as well as public statements of praise. This type of relationship has been around for a long time, but we’ll focus on current or very recent instances. In these 12 examples, is the bromance budding or established? And how hot is it, from 1-10? One being about to burn out, and 10 being established and everlasting, aka wicked hawt. 

Can anyone stand up to the Gregg Popovich/Tim Duncan mega-bromance? Let’s find out.

Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers

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This bromance disbanded geographically in 2013, but it’s recent enough to mention. Kevin Garnett played for Doc Rivers in Boston from 2007-13. In 2008, Garnett was instrumental in the Celtics’ first NBA championship since Larry Bird.  

Both departed Boston after the 2012-13 season, but they maintain a great mutual respect for one another. Rivers often praised Garnett and described him as a leader and team player, somewhat of a second coach.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, Rivers and Garnett each said, “I love you,” to the other as they embraced after their final game with the Celtics in 2013.

Bromance Heat Meter: 1

Marcus Mariota and Chip Kelly

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Sure, these two aren’t technically with the same team at the moment, but recent chatter suggests that a reunion could be on the horizon.

Chip Kelly recruited Marcus Mariota to play football at Oregon. Four years later, the redshirt junior is a Heisman Trophy winner about to play for the national championship. Kelly recently praised Mariota on the 94WIP Morning Show, saying (via CBS Philly), “I felt lucky that I had an opportunity to coach a young man like that. ... He’s a special young man. I know I’m a better person for being associated with him.”

Kelly only coached Mariota for two seasons, but in 2012, Mariota became the only freshman to start at QB in Oregon’s history.

The Philadelphia Eagles, Kelly’s new team, are currently sitting at No. 20 in the 2015 draft order, but there are those who wonder about the possibility of Philadelphia trading up to get Mariota.

Bromance Heat Meter: 2

Carmelo Anthony and Derek Fisher

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Carmelo Anthony and his New York Knicks coach Derek Fisher have more of a budding bromance, one born at least in part out of adversity.

The Knicks have struggled in the 2014-15 NBA season, Fisher’s first as head coach. On January 1, 2015, the Knicks were a dismal 5-29. At that time, Anthony told Ramona Shelburne of ESPN of his coach, “I think if it was anybody else in his position, I think this probably would've crumbled already. I think he's doing a great job of keeping everybody focused on the task at hand and believing in what we're trying to do.”

Bromance Heat Meter: 3

Draymond Green and Steve Kerr

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Here is one of the budding young bromances of this basketball season. First-year coach and third-year player Draymond Green are building a great player-coach relationship as the Golden State Warriors take the NBA by storm.

Kerr recently said of his small forward, “I love Draymond,” according to Ethan Sherwood Strauss of ESPN.com. “Draymond and I have probably gotten into it three or four times, and every time he apologizes within a minute because he has such a heart of gold.”

Strauss also reported that Kerr talked with Green’s former college coach, Tom Izzo of Michigan State, to help understand the player’s style and passion.

Bromance Heat Meter: 3

Tony Romo and Jason Garrett

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If ever a player-coach bromance has faced adversity, it’s been this one. As the Dallas Cowboys limped from .500 season to .500 season from 2011-13, the two people who caught the most heat were the coach, Jason Garrett, and the quarterback, Tony Romo.

Romo gained a reputation for being unreliable during crunch time, and Garrett faced near-constant rumors about his impending job loss. Despite lackluster expectations entering the 2014 season, these two have managed some semblance of redemption. The Cowboys went 12-4 and won their first playoff game in five years.

The two have stuck by each other through thick and thin, and defended each other against criticism. Romo recently told Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com, “Jason is the best head coach in the league that no one talks about.”

Bromance Heat Meter: 5

Didier Drogba and Jose Mourinho

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Jose Mourinho and Didier Drogba forged their bromance with Chelsea, and after a hiatus that saw them both with other teams, they continue it there now.

Mourinho brought Drogba to Stamford Bridge in 2004, and the two developed a strong relationship. Mourinho even wrote a touching forward in Drogba’s autobiography.

Mourinho returned to Chelsea in 2013, and in 2014, Drogba was signed to a one-year deal. David Hytner of The Guardian reported that Drogba said, “I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to work with José again. Everyone knows the special relationship I have with this club and it has always felt like home to me.”

Bromance Heat Meter: 6

Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll

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Apparently Seahawks coach Pete Carroll wasn’t sold on Russell Wilson in the 2012 NFL draft. Luckily for Seattle, its GM was. Carroll told reporters (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk), “John Schneider led the charge on this thing. John had it pegged perfectly where it happened for us. He had been sweating it out in the second round."

Wilson won the starting job as a rookie, and now he’s a Super Bowl champion. His coach has nothing but praise for him, and the two have forged a real bond. Now Carroll says he “can’t imagine life without” his star quarterback.

The two even made a trick-shot video with Dude Perfect recently.

Bromance Heat Meter: 7

Colin Kaepernick and Jim Harbaugh

Jim Harbaugh had a big hand in the San Francisco 49ers' decision to draft Colin Kaepernick in 2011. In fact, Harbaugh’s father later told Matt Barrows of The Sancramento Bee about his son’s decision to draft the young quarterback. Jim reportedly said to his father, “I not only think he's the best quarterback in the draft, I think that he's the best football player in the draft. And we're going with Colin Kaepernick."

You know the rest. Harbaugh decided to start Kaepernick in 2012 when Alex Smith went down with an injury. The 49ers proceeded to make two straight NFC championship appearances, winning one of them. Harbaugh and Kaepernick shared success, and they share respect.

After the announcement came down that Harbaugh would accept the head coaching position at Michigan, Kaepernick posted a photo and message to Instagram captioned, “The coach that drafted me, chose to start me, and stood behind me through it all! I will never forget what you have done for me coach thank you for everything!”

Bromance Heat Meter: 8

Jake Peavy and Tim Flannery

This is a lesser-known bromance, but any player and coach who have jam sessions together must qualify.

Tim Flannery is the third base coach for the San Francisco Giants, and Jake Peavy is on the pitching staff. Flannery has his own band, Tim Flannery and Lunatic Fringe, and apparently he taught Peavy how to play guitar? For real, according to the band’s Facebook page, Flannery bought Peavy his first guitar and taught him to play when Peavy was just 19.

Peavy paid him back recently by buying him a $5,000 Gibson.

Bromance Heat Meter: 9

Drew Brees and Sean Payton

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There’s something about coaches and quarterbacks that makes forging the bromance bond a little more likely. Maybe it’s because the QB is often thought of as a sort of coach on the field.

Sean Payton and Drew Brees have both been with the New Orleans Saints since 2006, and they’ve won a Super Bowl together. They’ve been through ups and downs—Brees’ short reign atop the NFL’s single-season passing leaders or Payton’s year-long suspension. But through it all, they’ve maintained a friendship as evidenced by many a bro hug.

Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael told David Fleming of ESPN The Magazine, “It's almost as if Drew and Sean have one brain working together.”

Plus, bros prank each other right? Brees did just that to his coach at 2014 training camp by staging a golf cart accident.

Bromance Heat Meter: 9

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick

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Well, they don’t get much bigger than this. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have one of the most established, ongoing bromances in sports. Both with the New England Patriots since 2000, the two have always maintained a relationship based on hard work and mutual respect.

Of course, success helps. Together, the duo has won three Super Bowls and dominated the AFC East. 

Mike Holmgren told Jackie MacMullan of ESPNBoston.com, “Tom was everything Bill wanted in a player. Bill is a relentless student of the game, a relentless grinder. And Tom is that way, too.”

Bromance Heat Meter: 10

Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich

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Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich have been together in San Antonio since 1997—Duncan’s entire career. They have won five NBA championships. Pop is a three-time Coach of the Year, Duncan a 14-time All-Star.

Even Brady and Belichick haven’t matched the success or duration of these two. Some might call this duo old, some might call them boring, but my suspicion is they wouldn’t care. They have worked together toward successful ends for almost two decades. 

Former Spur Brent Barry told Elizabeth Merrill of ESPN.com:

"

You have two sets of eyes on you as you're finishing off the task at hand. You have the coach, but then you have the coach's first son. Your older brother. Kind of the man of the house with Dad's car. And Tim is watching over and kind of quietly assessing what you're doing, and nothing really needs to be said.

"

Former assistant Mike Brown also told Merrill that at the conclusion of each season, Popovich thanks Duncan…for letting him coach him.

Bromance Heat Meter: 10+