In Harvard interview, Tom Brady discusses leadership, describing Bill Belichick’s style as ‘often based on fear’ - The Boston Globe (2024)

In it, Brady, along with former Harvard Business School dean Nitin Nohria, endeavor to distill his leadership principles down to a few key points. And amid the context provided to help illustrate Brady’s principles, the former Patriot inevitably wove in some stories about his New England tenure.

Get Breaking Sports Alerts

Be the first to know the latest sports news as it happens, and get the Globe's most interesting reporting right to your inbox.

1. How he views some of his competitors

Advertisement

While the point of Brady’s piece is to help inspire and inform others — not necessarily in the world of football — to become better leaders, he admitted being “lucky” that not everyone in the NFL was as driven as he was.

While discussing the importance of putting the team first, Brady noted that there are many football players who simply don’t do it.

“If you spent time in professional sports locker rooms, you might be surprised that players don’t always behave that way. Some players take all the credit when things go right, but when things go wrong, they make excuses and place the blame on everyone else, including referees, teammates, and coaches,” Brady said.

“When I see players like that, who seem to care more about themselves than the team, I can also see how that makes the people around them less motivated to give their best effort. In a way, I was lucky those behaviors are so pervasive,” he added, “because if they weren’t, many of the teams I played against would have been more difficult to beat.”

2. Leading Michigan after being benched

One of the more interesting periods of Brady’s career was his up-and-down experience at the University of Michigan. Arriving as a fairly average recruit, Brady had to wait until his fourth season before he got significant playing time.

Advertisement

And even when it appeared he’d solidified his role as the starting quarterback, highly touted recruit Drew Henson loomed over his shoulder.

Brady shared an anecdote from when he was benched in favor of Henson during a game against Syracuse. While Michigan won the game, Brady acknowledged that he had been “crushed” by the decision to swap quarterbacks.

Related: At Paris Olympics, Tom Brady and his daughter meet athletes and root for Team USA. See photos and videos.

Still, he explained how — as a team captain — he enthusiastically led teammates in a traditional postgame rendition of Michigan’s fight song.

“I was crushed that I hadn’t played in the second half, but I stood up on that chair and I screamed those lyrics out as loud as I could,” Brady said. “I’m sure people knew I was disappointed, but I wanted to show everyone that I supported Drew and the team. I felt like that really endeared me to my teammates.”

Several weeks later, Brady recalled, he was named as the permanent starter (and Michigan went undefeated the rest of the season).

“The way I handled myself during the first few games of that season, when things didn’t go the way I wanted them to, was very important in my development as a leader,” he recalled. “I continued to work hard, I put the team first, and I always supported my teammates, even as I tried to prove that I was the right person to play quarterback. This fundamental change in attitude set the tone for the rest of my athletic career.”

3. Motivating his teammates

While discussing leading by example, Brady explained how he tried to hold teammates accountable by setting his own standard, despite what the coaches might have planned.

Advertisement

Surveying the NFL landscape, Brady presented a candid portrait.

“In the NFL, every player thinks he’s giving 100 percent effort,” he explained. “Judging from what I saw, a lot of them are playing at only 70 or 80 percent of their true ability. They may not realize it, but they’ve been conditioned to do that.”

He was also open about how his motivational practices were always imperfect.

“I wish I had a foolproof method for going into any situation where a player is giving 70 percent and finding a way to squeeze out that remaining 30 percent. I’m not sure I ever was able to do that,” he admitted. “But by modeling team-focused behavior and creating higher expectations and accountability, I could reliably get another 5 percent or 10 percent out of players — and that often made a big difference.”

4. Edelman vs. Moss

Two of Brady’s most important and high-profile teammates were wide receivers Julian Edelman and Randy Moss. Within a larger discussion about how Brady tried to tailor motivational practices to each individual, he used Edelman and Moss as examples.

“If you wanted Julian, who had incredible mental toughness, to play his best, the way to do it was to tick him off,” said Brady. “I would say something like ‘Jules, wow, you look really sluggish today.’ He’d glare at me and be so angry, but I knew he’d channel that energy to prove me wrong and go out and play great.

“Randy, who’s a Hall of Fame receiver, responded better to validation,” Brady added. “Even in practice, if I went too long without throwing the ball to him, I’d go over and say how much I valued him and remind him that I was always looking for him on every play. I wanted to make sure he never slowed down.”

Advertisement

5. Developing leadership alongside Belichick

In Harvard interview, Tom Brady discusses leadership, describing Bill Belichick’s style as ‘often based on fear’ - The Boston Globe (1)

Brady has bristled at the perpetual debate over who should get more “credit” for the Patriots’ dynasty. He maintains that New England’s sustained success was the result of many factors.

On the subject of Belichick, who he called “the greatest coach in the history of the NFL,” Brady offered some context for why he thinks the Patriots’ success was more attributable to the collective than any individual.

“We all felt fortunate to play for him, and there were many benefits to his approach,” Brady said of Belichick, “but his motivational style — often based on fear — was sometimes difficult. So as a team leader, I tried to complement that approach by being a bit more upbeat.”

The former Patriots quarterback elaborated on how he played a version of “good cop” to Belichick’s “bad cop.”

“He wasn’t one to mingle and form personal relationships with players or coaches, because it’s difficult to do that when you know you’ll have to trade, cut, or fire most of them at some point down the road,” Brady said of his former coach. “So I often took the opposite approach: I tried to get to know my teammates deeply and show that I cared about them personally.

“I asked about their families and the things going on in their lives off the field. I made it clear that if we connected as teammates, they’d be my teammates for life, and I’ve tried to live up to that.”

Ultimately, Brady noted that the famous duo were interdependent.

“I like to think my style complemented coach Belichick’s,” he said. “I was lucky to play for a coach who was so smart, hardworking, and focused on discipline — a coach who relentlessly held people accountable for doing their job. He was fortunate to have someone like me who could recognize where the team was at emotionally, rally the troops, and pull people together.”

Advertisement

Gasper: Patriots are ‘no longer a desirable NFL destination’

Hayden Bird can be reached at hayden.bird@globe.com.

In Harvard interview, Tom Brady discusses leadership, describing Bill Belichick’s style as ‘often based on fear’ - The Boston Globe (2024)

FAQs

What is Bill Belichick leadership style? ›

Belichick celebrated his players but also kept players on their toes randomly asking them questions or quizzing about the plan while reviewing film or just bumping into them in the hall way. He focused a lot on representing the team, being highly prepared and always being ready for your moments of truth.

What kind of person is Bill Belichick? ›

Belichick has often been known for his dry personality. He is all about handling his business and takes a no-nonsense approach to the game.

What is Bill Belichick philosophy? ›

Belichick's Approach to Coaching

When asked to sum up his coaching philosophy, Belichick says things like, “The only way to get better in football is to wear pads and actually play football.” He chooses players who are not afraid of hard work and discipline, then just lets them go to work.

How was Tom Brady a leader? ›

Brady's leadership extends beyond personal performance; he has a unique ability to elevate the performance of his teammates. His encouragement and belief in his team's abilities inspire confidence and drive them to achieve more. Leadership Lesson: True leadership involves lifting others as you climb.

What does coach style leadership mean? ›

Coaching leadership is a style that involves recognizing team members' strengths, weaknesses and motivations to help each individual improve. It is one of the four main leadership styles that managers use to motivate employees and achieve success.

What is the leadership style of a sports coach? ›

The world of sport has three generally accepted styles of coaching: autocratic, democratic and holistic. Each coaching style has benefits, drawbacks, and particular uses. So, it's important to understand the ethics driving these management approaches.

Did Tom Brady like Bill Belichick? ›

"Me and coach Belichick, we did what we loved and competed for 20 years together," Brady said, as transcribed by The Athletic.

What makes Belichick great? ›

What makes Belichick so great? He blended an unwavering philosophy that included a rare willingness to change. In other words, Belichick never changed and always changed. He has always been demanding, has always taught the fundamentals of the game in the same way and has always emphasized immense preparation.

Is Bill Belichick the greatest coach ever? ›

No. 2 all time in career wins, Belichick is the only coach in NFL history to win nine conference titles and six Super Bowls. Under Belichick's watch, the Patriots posted 19 consecutive winning seasons, 17 straight playoff seasons and 17 division titles.

What does Tom Brady believe? ›

Brady is also unique when it comes to his religion. The New England Patriots quarterback, a symbol of success, fame and fortune, believes in everything. According to The New York Times' Mark Leibovich, Brady's faith falls on a more spiritual path since he doesn't believe in a specific God or religious practice.

Who taught Bill Belichick? ›

Belichick's father was an assistant collegiate football coach, primarily at the United States Naval Academy, who taught his son the finer points of the sport from an early age.

Is Bill Belichick still coaching? ›

Belichick, 72, is one of the most decorated coaches in NFL history, winning six Super Bowls as head coach of the New England Patriots from 2000-2023. He and the Patriots mutually agreed to part ways this offseason, and despite interviewing for the Atlanta Falcons' vacancy, he's set to sit out the 2024 season.

Who was Tom Brady a fan of? ›

The card collector sold Brady a handful of cards that included a rookie card for Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, a rookie card for New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and an autographed card of 49ers Hall of Fame quarterback (and Brady's longtime football idol) Joe Montana.

Who did Tom Brady inspire? ›

Manny Pacquiao said Tom Brady inspired him to keep competing in his 40s. Manny Pacquiao is one of the few athletes to boast more championships than Brady. The 44-year-old Filipino boxing legend won 12 major world titles in eight different weight divisions, five more than Brady's seven Super Bowl championships.

Who was Brady's go to guy? ›

Don Yee, who found himself front and center in one of the most contentious and controversial sports stories of recent vintage—the 20-month “Deflategate” saga that centered on New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady—saw his role as a determined advocate.

What is a player coach leadership style? ›

A player-coach management model is a leadership approach that combines direct involvement in tasks with the responsibilities of guiding and mentoring a team. It represents a hands-on style where leaders actively work alongside their team while providing direction, support, and coaching.

What type of leadership style is Bill Gates? ›

Bill Gates is a transformational leader because he is driven by a strong passion for innovation and creating change that grows an organization.

What is the coach approach to leadership? ›

It focuses on developing and maximizing employees' abilities and talents to achieve the best possible organizational performance. It may be used for individual employees as well as teams. The “coach approach” is centered on openness, curiosity, collaboration and support of others.

What makes Bill Belichick successful? ›

Belichick is famous for signing veterans who have not excelled on their prior teams, identifying their strengths and giving them the opportunity to excel by using those strengths. O'Connor reports that Belichick's private persona is much more easygoing and friendly than the curmudgeon he presents to the public.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Nicola Considine CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 5977

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (49 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nicola Considine CPA

Birthday: 1993-02-26

Address: 3809 Clinton Inlet, East Aleisha, UT 46318-2392

Phone: +2681424145499

Job: Government Technician

Hobby: Calligraphy, Lego building, Worldbuilding, Shooting, Bird watching, Shopping, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.