Even the best of working relationships don’t last forever, and Tom Brady knew it was time to leave the New England Patriots when he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020.

Brady said as much in “The Dynasty” documentary series, which will commence via Apple TV+ on Friday. The documentary recounts the Patriots dynasty, largely led by Brady and former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, and Brady admitted in the documentary why he really needed a change in 2020.

“Me and coach Belichick, we did what we loved and competed for 20 years together. But I wasn’t going to sign another contract [in New England] even if I wanted to play until [I was] 50. Based on how things had gone, I wasn’t going to sign up for more of it,” Brady says in the documentary via Chad Graff’s article in The Athletic on Wednesday.

Things didn’t click for Brady in his final year with the Patriots in 2019, especially due to a lack of wide receiver talent and the retirement of tight end Rob Gronkowski. Brady chose the Buccaneers in free agency because of a strong defense, strong offensive line, and a talented receiving corps with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

Tom Brady Launched Buccaneers Into New Era

Amid Brady’s arrival, he also lured Gronkowski out of retirement and talked the Buccaneers into signing star wide receiver Antonio Brown, who had a 1-game stint with the Patriots in 2019. Brady flipped the script of his final season in New England with a big performance in 2020 with the Buccaneers en route to a Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

His play only improved in 2021 despite turning 44 amid 5,316 yards passing and 43 touchdowns. Despite the success, Brady fell short of an eighth Super Bowl win though as the Los Angeles Rams stunned the Buccaneers in the Divisional Round.

After a brief retirement, Brady came back in 2022 and led the Buccaneers to an NFC South title despite Gronkowski’s retirement and growing pains under new head coach Todd Bowles. Brady only threw for 4,694 yards and 25 touchdowns amid an 8-9 record, and he retired after that season.

Despite Brady’s retirement, the Buccaneers won another NFC South title in 2023 and reached the Divisional Round with Baker Mayfield under center. Expectations remain high in Tampa Bay since Brady’s short tenure there.

2024 Will Look Different for Tom Brady & Bill Belichick
Brady will head to the broadcast booth with FOX in 2024. Meanwhile, Belichick remains without a coaching job after he mutually parted ways with the Patriots after one playoff game since Brady left Foxborough.

“I’m not one to hire, you know, I don’t know the criteria for hiring these guys, for hiring coaches,” Brady said during his “Let’s Go!” podcast during the playoffs. “I have never been a part of it. I mean, I’m surprised that the greatest coach ever doesn’t have a job. Absolutely. But I’m surprised at a lot of things in the NFL. I’m surprised when I was a free agent there was a lot of teams that didn’t want me.”

Brady didn’t have a lot of suitors at age 43 when he left New England. The Los Angeles Chargers were considered a finalist besides the Buccaneers. Other teams such as his hometown San Francisco 49ers didn’t make an offer.