Readers Say
“He never did anything to endear himself to the fans – why would we want to be reminded of that?”
Bill Belichick addressed the media at Gillette Stadium about his departure on Jan. 11, 2024. (John Tlumacki/Globe Staff)
By Annie Jonas
September 8, 2025 | 3:17 PM
5 minutes to read
Last month, the New England Patriots unveiled a 12-foot statue of Tom Brady outside Gillette Stadium, honoring one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history and the golden boy of New England’s two-decade dynasty. But Brady might not be standing alone for long.
In a recent interview with WBZ’s Dan Roche, Patriots owner Robert Kraft hinted that a statue of Bill Belichick could soon join Brady’s at the stadium, but only after the legendary coach officially ends his career. This suggestion sparked plenty of debate among fans, and Boston.com readers were eager to share their thoughts on whether Belichick deserves the same kind of statuesque honor as Brady.
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Out of 1,075 total responses to our poll, readers were nearly split. Just under half (46%) of readers said “yes” to the idea of a Belichick statue, while 52% disagreed.
Would you want to see a Bill Belichick statue next to the Tom Brady statue at Gillette?
I don't know
Many readers rallied behind the idea, citing Belichick’s pivotal role in the Patriots’ six Super Bowl victories.
“The Pats’ successes were not just due to Tom, Belichick had a lot to do with it too!” reader Charles L. from Newburyport said.
Others echoed this sentiment, underscoring the legendary coach’s place in NFL history.
“He deserves it. I know things were a little rough at the end of his tenure, but he is still the greatest coach of all time,” Jeff P. from Cheshire, Connecticut added.
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Eddie G. from Somerville summed it up by calling the Brady-Belichick partnership the greatest coach/quarterback combo in history: “They built the dynasty together.”
However, not everyone was on board with the idea. Many readers pointed to Belichick’s complicated relationship with fans, especially in the years following Brady’s departure, as a reason for not honoring him with a statue.
“Not a likable guy. He doesn’t like the franchise. And it’s looking more and more like he was vastly overrated,” said Cory C. from Waltham.
Another reader, Jeanne E. from Cape Cod, questioned Belichick’s connection with the fanbase, noting, “He never did anything to endear himself to the fans – why would we want to be reminded of that?”
Some readers were firm in their belief that Brady, not Belichick, was the true driver of the Patriots’ success. “It is clear it was Brady and not Belichick that made the difference,” argued Lisa O. from Shrewsbury.
Peter from East Sandwich also shared his doubts, stating, “He does not need a statue. The end was a mess, be it Kraft or Bill.”
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While it’s clear that Belichick’s contributions to the Patriots’ dynasty are undeniable, many fans remain conflicted about whether he should be immortalized in bronze next to Brady. Some supporters of the idea are eager to see both figures honored together, while others feel the time may not be right – or perhaps not necessary at all.
Below, readers weigh in on the Brady vs. Belichick statue debate.
Responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
Would you want to see a Bill Belichick statue next to the Tom Brady statue at Gillette?
No
“I think his reputation has taken quite the hit in the last few years and the more time passes, it becomes more evident that Tom Brady was the biggest reason for the 6 Super Bowl titles and not Bill. In addition, all the Jordon Hudson stuff is a total embarrassment for him and has done significant damage to his legacy and how he is perceived.” – Paul R., North Andover
“I appreciate what Bill did in the early dynasty, but he has more than used up his goodwill in these parts with his petulant and vindictive behavior. Banning Patriots scouts from UNC is just the latest example of him prioritizing his own squabbles over what is actually best for the team (in this case UNC).” – Andy, Providence, Rhode Island
“Without Brady, he did nothing in New England. Bad General Manager and last few years coaching were less than average. He left the franchise in shambles.” – Peter F., Franklin
“A bitter curmudgeon resentful of a team that helped build his legacy but he ultimately burned it down.” – Matt S., Leominster
“He has not proven he can be successful without Bill Parcells’ players and lucked out with Brady.” – Bob G., Boston
“Overrated coach. Tell me what other head coach in NFL history had arguably the best defensive player of all time in LT and the best QB of all time in you know who. He owes his 8 SB’s to those two players. Period. In addition, he was a lousy GM whose last 3 or 4 drafts for the Patriots were pathetic. You throw in arrogance and ego, and he was lucky to tag along on the Brady/Kraft express.” – Jim, Hadley
Yes
“The last couple of seasons as the Patriot’s iconic head coach does not have the power to erase the entire Belichick era. He is the GOAT and that’s final. It’s not a personality contest, it’s not who was better Brady or him? It’s the statistics and facts. Period. There should be two statues.
Two statues are correct for the dynamic duo that he and Brady were – it was a spellbinding run. One we may never see in the gridiron sphere … There should be two statues for this simple fact – Brady never coached himself. He has admitted to the profound impact Bill had on him on and off the field. It was an amazing time to be alive. Two statues are the correct homage we should all request.” – Elaine L., Walpole
“Not having Bill Belichick immortalized together with TB12 at Patriot Place would be a grave injustice and an incomplete history of New England Patriots championship football.” – Charles Z., formerly of Massachusetts
“While people have been quick in recent years to point to Bill’s shortcomings and downfalls, he was nevertheless instrumental in the Patriots success during the years he was the head coach. His approach to the game, his mindset, and his relentless ambition for improvement are what made the Patriots and every player and coach on the team better. He was also always the first to say ‘Players win ’em, coaches lose ’em,’ exemplifying his approach of not trying to take individual credit, but putting the team and the goals of the team first. He absolutely should have a statue at Gillette, no doubt in my mind.” – Scott M., Newton, New Hampshire
“Belichick and Brady together were greater than the sum of their individual talents, even if in hindsight we can see that Tom made the greater contribution to this partnership. So if he received the honor of a statue at Gillette Stadium, then Bill should be similarly recognized. I acknowledge that the unfortunately acrimonious divorce between Belichick and the Patriots after several unproductive seasons has made such a decision controversial, but there should be no denying what The Hoodie did to resurrect the franchise and build a great dynasty.” – Vincent L., Quincy
“They are the co-creators of the greatest dynasty in NFL history. The Brady vs. Belichick debate has always been absurd – neither would have achieved anything close to the level of success in New England.” – Timmy, Marblehead
“You need a good QB and a good coach to win. Belichick and Brady did it for 20 years like we’ve never seen and never will again. Both deserve it.” – Ray, New Hampshire
Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.
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Annie Jonas
Annie Jonas is a Community writer at Boston.com. She was previously a local editor at Patch and a freelancer at the Financial Times.
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