Are Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s legacies secured?

Were Tom Brady and Bill Belichick’s legacies secured with a fourth Super Bowl title?

With the New England Patriots winning their fourth Super Bowl title in the 21st century on Sunday by defeating the defending champion Seattle Seahawks in unbelievable fashion, they have certainly solidified themselves as the team of this century (so far) and continue to be the NFL’s biggest villains. However with this title, what is the perception and view of where head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady place in history?

More from New England Patriots

Forget about Spygate and Deflategate for a moment. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have been at it together for 15 seasons now (since 2001) and as a coach-quarterback combination there has been no other duo that has been as successful throughout NFL history than these two. As a coach-quarterback combo, they have compiled more wins (160) than any other combo in history and 44 more wins than the second place duo of Don Shula-Dan Marino (116 wins). Those 160 wins together also top other prominent duos like Terry Bradshaw-Chuck Noll (107 wins), Jim Kelly-Marv Levy (99 wins), Roger Staubach-Tom Landry (84 wins), and Joe Montana-Bill Walsh (75 wins). They are the winningest QB-coach duo in playoff history with 21 wins, which elevates them over the Noll-Bradshaw and Walsh-Montana duos that each had 14 wins together.

As a combo, Brady and Belichick have made the most conference championship games (9) in history which is five more than the duos that are second on the list: Bradshaw-Noll, Kelly-Levy, Montana-Walsh, and Staubach-Landry each made four conference championship games. The four Super Bowl titles they have won equals Bradshaw and Noll as the most between a coach-QB duo all-time in the Super Bowl era.

Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady celebrates after defeating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

To sum it all up, Brady and Belichick together have made the 12 playoff appearances, won 12 division titles, won 6 conference titles, made 6 Super Bowl appearances, won 4 Super Bowl titles, and have 160-47 record through 15 seasons that is the highest winning percentage (.773) for a coach-quarterback combo since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970. They have also clinched a No. 1 seed in the playoffs six times in their tenure, completed an undefeated regular season together (16-0 in 2007), and as a combo helped lead the Patriots to a 21-game winning streak (2003-2004) – which is the longest winning streak in NFL history.

Plus, what has to be admired is the sustainability, consistency, and stability that Brady, Belichick, and the Patriots organization has achieved over the course of over a decade during the salary cap/free agency period nonetheless. It’s harder to maintain success during the player movement era and New England has found a smart and resourceful way of staying on top for this long. Ever since Brady took over starting duties during the begging of the 2001 season, New England has been a threat to win the Super Bowl every single season. There has been no drop-off. That’s what you call a hell of a run my friends…and the crazy thing is there not finish yet either. The two of them together will probably be at this thing for at least another three to five years, so don’t be surprised to see them capture another title in the long run.

No disrespect to the other great coach-QB combos in NFL history like Bill Walsh-Joe Montana, Vince Lombardi-Bart Starr, Don Shula-Dan Marino, Chuck Noll-Terry Bradshaw, Tom Landry-Roger Staubach, Paul Brown-Otto Graham, and other timeless duos, but you kinda have to give the title of “Best NFL QB-Coach Combo Ever” to Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. Well, at least I will…and yes their legacies are secured. Spygate and Deflategate be damned.

Next: Are Tom Brady and Bill Belichick the best QB/coach combo in NFL history?

More from FanSided

Home/New England Patriots