Tom Brady never got the approval he wanted from Bill Belichick during their time at the New England Patriots, it has been claimed.
Brady left the team back in 2019 and proceeded to star for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, helping the team win the Super Bowl in 2021.
During his prime years in the sport, the 46-year-old was unstoppable.
He, along with Belichick, helped the Patriots to a record six Super Bowl triumphs across 18 years.
Tom Brady has opened up on his relationship with former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick
GETTY
However, towards the end of their time together, their relationship appeared to fracture.
According to Patriots CEO Robert Kraft, speaking in an upcoming documentary 'The Dynasty' which is due to release on Friday, Brady always wanted appreciation from his coach.
Yet that wasn't in Belichick's nature, something that caused the dynamics of their relationship to change.
Kraft said: “Tom and I had a number of discussions about how Bill treated him.
"Tommy is very sensitive. He was always looking for Bill’s approval, almost in a father-son kind of way.
"And that’s not Bill’s style ever to give that.”
Brady is also asked about their relationship and how things changed, despite all the success they achieved together.
The NFL icon rubbishes claims his exit was because of the Patriots being unwilling to give him the lucrative contract he wants.
Instead, Brady claims he was never interested in staying because of 'how things had gone'.
“Me and coach Belichick, we did what we loved and competed for 20 years together,” Brady said.
“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.”
Fast-forward to now and Belichick's future in the NFL is uncertain.
One of the greatest coaches of all time is currently a free agent after it was confirmed he'd be leaving the Patriots behind.
Speaking earlier this month, Kraft shed light on why Belichick was being let go - with the Patriots hoping for a brighter and better future.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Tom Brady and Bill Belichick won six Super Bowls together during their time in NFL
GETTY
"Well, the last three years have been pretty tough, and I know for our dedicated fans and myself, and (in) life I just learn that things happen," he said.
"Our family is the custodian of this asset: the New England Patriots.
"We know how important it is to the psyche of the community and what's gone on here the last three, four years isn't what we want.
"We have a responsibility to do what we can to fix it to the best of our ability."
And Kraft also admitted it had been a 'very hard' decision to let Belichick go.
Bill Belichick left the New England Patriots in January after a glittering spell in charge
GETTY
"This is a results business. Certain things in life, it's instinctual.
"I think both of us felt the time was right for each of us to go off in our separate directions.
"For him to say he'll always be a Patriot. It's great. The last few days, since Monday since we've been thinking about and talking about, I think our relationship went to a new place because this is very hard.
"It's like a marriage, things don't always go great. You get through the difficult times and it makes the relationship strong. I think we had the chance to do that over the last almost quarter of a century.
"I think both of us felt at this point in time it was in our mutual interest to each go our own way, but knowing that we have that bond and foundation that's really hard in this business to create - very hard."
