LeSean McCoy once recounted why Robert Kraft was mad at Tom Brady

Tom Brady and former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick created countless unforgettable moments for Patriots fans over nearly two decades. However, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. The Patriots dynasty, once the gold standard of NFL dominance, eventually faced its twilight.

The decline began when Brady departed after the 2019-20 season, marking the end of an era. In 2020, he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and, in a stunning display of his enduring greatness, led them to a Super Bowl victory in his very first season.

Brady’s success was cherished by his and the Bucs fans alike, but Patriots owner Robert Kraft was not happy with Brady’s win, as revealed by LeSean McCoy. When the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB was invited to the "I Am Athlete" show in January 2022, he recalled his encounter with Kraft and discussed Brady’s departure.

“I said, ‘Hey, Mr. Kraft, how you doing?’ A little small talk—let’s get to the serious thing, cut to the small talk, ‘What happened with the Brady thing? How do you let Tommy leave?’” McCoy said. “He’s like this: ‘Oh, I love Tommy, this and that, I’m mad he left. I told Bill … You let Tom win a championship; it’s time for you to win one.’”

The Brady and Belichick duo helped the Patriots win six Super Bowls while making numerous AFC Championship game appearances. However, a brewing ego clash between Brady and Belichick led to their decline as well. The story has been well documented in numerous programs, including the Netflix show, ‘The Dynasty.’

Robert Kraft regretted letting Tom Brady go

When Brady departed, Kraft told ESPN that he was informed by Belichick that the legendary couldn’t play anymore with the team. He said:

“Bill had told me he couldn't play anymore,” Kraft continued, “and then he goes out and wins the f--king Super Bowl.”

Unlike Belichick’s statement, Brady has admitted that he had always planned to play till 45. His performance in the 2020-21 season was a testament to his will and skill to play football at 43.

Meanwhile, the Patriots made it to the playoffs seeded #6 in the AFC. Hence, Kraft lamented his decision to let go of Brady. In another press conference, Kraft admitted:

“Look, I would have loved for him to have retired as a Patriot. Everybody knew that." Kraft further added, “After 20 years, I thought he was entitled to make a decision that was, what he thought, was best for him in where he was at. And we gave him the ability to do that. It's like marriage is sometimes.”

After winning the Super Bowl, LeSean McCoy signed off against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, signing a one-game contract with the Eagles in the 2022-23 season.