‘Your greatest play’ – Bill Belichick praised Tom Brady for averting disaster on play that went wrong in Super Bowl
You can’t define a career by a single play. Especially Tom Brady‘s career. Brady and Belichick won their third Super Bowl in four years when they took down the Eagles in Super Bowl 39Getty But his former head coach begs to differ. Bill Belichick has a particular play in mind that he believes was one of Brady’s best, if not his greatest, and shared it one on the Let’s Go! podcast. A play that took place in Super Bowl XXXIX between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles. “Tom, one of your greatest plays ever was in the Super Bowl against the Eagles,” Belichick said. “This comes down to fundamental execution, that’s just so critical. “We’re on about the five-yard-line and ran a hook route to Christian Fauria. “He was matched up on a linebacker and that was really the look for the touchdown. “Well Christian went up there and of course fell down. “So, Tom went to his next read which was Deion Branch in the slot and Branch was doubled. The two defenders were shoulder-to-shoulder on him. “There was no way he could throw him the ball. Givens touchdown catch helped tie the game at 7-7 right before halftimeGetty Belichich regards the play as one of Brady’s greatestGetty Brady and Belichick won a record six Super Bowls togetherGetty “So then Tom went outside to [David] Givens and Givens was running a fade and was kind of just a decoy on the route. “It was kind of you know, working towards the back of the end zone and Tom back shouldered him. “Givens came back and made the catch and did the ‘Fly Eagles Fly’ all that. “It was a progression read of like here’s one touchdown Fauria, he’s on the ground. “Here’s Branch, no chance to throw him the ball. Read More on Super Bowl LIX All you need to know about Super Bowl LIX as Kansas City Chiefs battle Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans ‘Bigger than Taylor Swift’ – Illegal rentals, 26,000 hotel rooms and the $500m refit behind Super Bowl of Super Bowls Emotional Travis Kelce and brother Jason broke down in tears remembering mom Donna’s powerful Super Bowl cameo Secret meaning to ‘eight stars’ in NFL logo revealed as fans stunned before Chiefs-Eagles Super Bowl Patrick Mahomes vs Tom Brady after first seven years as a starter reveals there’s only one winner in quarterback debate Who is performing the Super Bowl halftime show and who will be singing the National Anthem? FOLLOW – talkSPORT End Zone YouTube Channel brings you all the latest news, views and analysis OFFER – See all Super Bowl odds and bet boosts over at talkSPORT BET BUY HERE – Brewdog launches new beer to celebrate Super Bowl 2025 “We got to go to the third guy and make it a back shoulder throw and that’s what great execution is under pressure in the most critical moments of the game and that’s how you win. “Tom, you made a lot of great plays, but I’ll put that one up there, maybe after your scramble against [Brian] Urlacher.” The head coach with the most Super Bowl rings has spoken. And when Belichick speaks, everyone listens. In a career as long and successful as Brady’s was, it’s almost impossible to point to a play and label it ‘the greatest play’ of his career. For a guy that played in ten Super Bowls, won seven of them, and appeared in 14 conference championship appearances, it would be easier to find a needle in a haystack than it would be to find Brady’s greatest play. The list is too long. Except for the guy who had a front row seat for the majority of Brady’s career. For him, finding his quarterback’s greatest play was easy. Super Bowl XXXIX on a back shoulder throw to the third guy in the progression, David Givens, for a touchdown right before the half. Who could forget? How To Watch the Full U.S. Coverage of Super Bowl LIX Live for 99p *If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue Access the ultimate Super Bowl LIX experience with NFL Game Pass – the only place to watch the full U.S. broadcast. For just 99p, you can enjoy the game exactly as it was meant to be seen! One-Time Payment: Pay only 99p and unlock access to the ultimate Super Bowl LIX experience with NFL Game Pass. U.S. Broadcast: Watch the full U.S. coverage of Super Bowl LIX, including the pre-game show, half-time show, post-game show, and even the iconic U.S. commercials. This is your chance to enjoy the true Super Bowl experience. Don’t miss out – get access now with NFL Game Pass on DAZN for just 99p!
You can’t define a career by a single play.
Especially Tom Brady‘s career.
But his former head coach begs to differ.
Bill Belichick has a particular play in mind that he believes was one of Brady’s best, if not his greatest, and shared it one on the Let’s Go! podcast.
A play that took place in Super Bowl XXXIX between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles.
“Tom, one of your greatest plays ever was in the Super Bowl against the Eagles,” Belichick said.
“This comes down to fundamental execution, that’s just so critical.
“We’re on about the five-yard-line and ran a hook route to Christian Fauria.
“He was matched up on a linebacker and that was really the look for the touchdown.
“Well Christian went up there and of course fell down.
“So, Tom went to his next read which was Deion Branch in the slot and Branch was doubled. The two defenders were shoulder-to-shoulder on him.
“There was no way he could throw him the ball.
“So then Tom went outside to [David] Givens and Givens was running a fade and was kind of just a decoy on the route.
“It was kind of you know, working towards the back of the end zone and Tom back shouldered him.
“Givens came back and made the catch and did the ‘Fly Eagles Fly’ all that.
“It was a progression read of like here’s one touchdown Fauria, he’s on the ground.
“Here’s Branch, no chance to throw him the ball.
Read More on Super Bowl LIX
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Emotional Travis Kelce and brother Jason broke down in tears remembering mom Donna’s powerful Super Bowl cameo
Secret meaning to ‘eight stars’ in NFL logo revealed as fans stunned before Chiefs-Eagles Super Bowl
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Who is performing the Super Bowl halftime show and who will be singing the National Anthem?
FOLLOW – talkSPORT End Zone YouTube Channel brings you all the latest news, views and analysis
OFFER – See all Super Bowl odds and bet boosts over at talkSPORT BET
BUY HERE – Brewdog launches new beer to celebrate Super Bowl 2025
“We got to go to the third guy and make it a back shoulder throw and that’s what great execution is under pressure in the most critical moments of the game and that’s how you win.
“Tom, you made a lot of great plays, but I’ll put that one up there, maybe after your scramble against [Brian] Urlacher.”
The head coach with the most Super Bowl rings has spoken.
And when Belichick speaks, everyone listens.
In a career as long and successful as Brady’s was, it’s almost impossible to point to a play and label it ‘the greatest play’ of his career.
For a guy that played in ten Super Bowls, won seven of them, and appeared in 14 conference championship appearances, it would be easier to find a needle in a haystack than it would be to find Brady’s greatest play.
The list is too long.
Except for the guy who had a front row seat for the majority of Brady’s career.
For him, finding his quarterback’s greatest play was easy.
Super Bowl XXXIX on a back shoulder throw to the third guy in the progression, David Givens, for a touchdown right before the half.
Who could forget?
How To Watch the Full U.S. Coverage of Super Bowl LIX Live for 99p
*If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue
Access the ultimate Super Bowl LIX experience with NFL Game Pass – the only place to watch the full U.S. broadcast. For just 99p, you can enjoy the game exactly as it was meant to be seen!
- One-Time Payment: Pay only 99p and unlock access to the ultimate Super Bowl LIX experience with NFL Game Pass.
- U.S. Broadcast: Watch the full U.S. coverage of Super Bowl LIX, including the pre-game show, half-time show, post-game show, and even the iconic U.S. commercials.
This is your chance to enjoy the true Super Bowl experience. Don’t miss out – get access now with NFL Game Pass on DAZN for just 99p!
