Brady met privately with Bill Belichick

Capping off what Tom Brady described as a “very emotional week,” the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback received a visit in the locker room from New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick following the Bucs’ 19-17 win at Gillette Stadium on Sunday night.

Belichick was seen entering the visiting locker room and it wasn’t until 20 minutes later that he emerged, soon followed by Brady. A source said Belichick had reached out to set up a meeting with Brady before the game.

“We’ve had a personal relationship for over 20 years. He drafted me in draft here, we had a lot of personal conversations that should stay that way. They’re very private,” Brady stated.

“I would say there’s a lot of talk about our relationship. Nothing is really accurate, it definitely doesn’t come from my personal feelings or beliefs.”

The private meeting with Belichick — which came after they embraced on the field — was one of the final parts of Brady’s expected homecoming on a rainy night in front of a raucous crowd. Patriots kicker Nick Folk’s 56-yard field goal attempt, which would have given New England the tie with 59 seconds to play, hit the left post.

“I feel good about winning,” Brady noted. “It was just some emotional moments thinking about coming out here and playing. I know why it’s been hard to come here and win a game all these years. This team does a great job. They make you get it done. It’s a tough soccer environment. The fans are involved. I’m very happy we won.”

After his team’s win, Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians said he was “very frustrated” that “everybody wanted to make it [Buccaneers-Patriots] about Brady and Belichick.”

“This is a team sport, I don’t think Bill was involved in a play,” Arians sentenced. “He had 22 guys playing hard and he knew they would play hard. And we had 22 guys out there playing really hard. It just so happened that just some of them were named Brady.”

Before leading the Buccaneers onto the field, the Patriots honored Brady with a one-minute video of his highlights, prompting fans to chant his name in appreciation, with chants of “Brady! Brady! Brady! Brady!” heard throughout the stadium.

Brady arrived at the stadium for warm-ups shortly before 7:30 p.m. and fans who arrived early to their seats–many in Brady jerseys– erupted in what seemed like a Super Bowl-type atmosphere. Brady trotted the length of the field, jumped up and down and raised his right fist as he reached the other end.

“It was unbelievable,” Brady sentenced. “I tried not to predict what was going to happen and how I would feel. I had some emotional moments this week thinking about the people who have meant so much to me in my life and who are part of this community. I am just so thankful for an amazing time here. Like I said, my soccer journey took me somewhere else, but I’m really enjoying it and it’s great to get a win.”

That was something Brady did often during his time with the Patriots. But this time, his run went the other way, starting in the visitors’ tunnel.

“I couldn’t run through the normal tunnel, so it happened the other way. A lot of emotions,” Brady expressed. “These guys are like my brothers. There are two groups of people: all my Bucs teammates that I love and go to battle with every week: and then there’s another group of guys that I see, and those are my friends that I’ve been with for a long time…these are the people that I’ve shared my life with. I’m very grateful for everything they’ve contributed to my life. Very blessed.”

Brady then gave Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels a hug as he ran to the Buccaneers’ side of the field while the fans chanted “Brady! Brady!” as he began to warm up.

Shortly thereafter, Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones took the field to a thunderous ovation, a not very unusual scene in which both teams’ quarterbacks were given standing ovations.

Brady was impressed with Jones, a first-round draft pick from Alabama whom he met briefly on the field after the game. In one span of the game, Jones completed 19 straight passes, the longest streak for a rookie in the past 40 seasons, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

“He did a great job. I think the offense does a great job. Josh actually called some really good plays, too. They kind of connected everything,” Brady referenced. “But in the end, it always comes down to a couple of plays. I’m happy I made them.

When Brady played for the Patriots, he often visited the field for away games shortly after the team bus arrived. However, Brady didn’t do that on Sunday after arriving around 5:00 p.m., heading straight to the visiting locker room and staying there until warm-ups.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft met Brady about three hours before kickoff in the tunnel outside the Buccaneers’ locker room. The two shared a hug and talked for a couple of minutes.

The division of loyalties for some was reflected by Tim O’Toole of Kennebunk, Maine, who wore a half Patriots, half Buccaneers Brady jersey.

But once the game started, most fans in the stadium made it clear that Brady was a member of the team and a rival and some boos could be heard.

Others came with signs of support specifically for Brady, and at one point, a Buccaneers flag hung in the end zone.

For his part, the night had a familiar feel for Brady. His wife, model Gisele Bundchen, was in attendance, along with their children. Brady’s parents also traveled to Foxborough for the game.

Brady finished with 22 pass completions on 43 attempts with 269 yards in the win. After the game ended, Brady was reunited at midfield with many of his former Patriots teammates, as well as Belichick and McDaniels, who hugged him for possibly the last time at Gillette Stadium.

“It’s been a great stadium for me for a long time. I don’t know what the future holds for me. Obviously, there might be an opportunity to come back here [and play another game]. We’ll see,” Brady noted.

“I feel like I’ll always be a part of this community. I’ll be here for a little bit when it’s all over. When I retire, I’m sure there will be plenty of time, I have a lot of friends here and it’s a great place. My kids were born on Beacon Street in the city. It’s been an amazing place for me. It still is.”