Are Tom Brady and Robert Kraft Friends?

The history of Tom Brady and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft together in the NFL has been a constant point of fascination or speculation, depending on who is talking. This piece is ultimately designed to provide an exhaustive look at their friendship, how it has changed, what they have said about each other in public, and the interactions that took place off-camera that give life to whether the two figures are compatible or not.

History of Association

When Robert Kraft bought the New England Patriots in 1994, it took him six years to hire Bill Belichick as a coach and turn them into the NFL's new standard bearer of success. The star quarterback, Tom Brady, was crucial in this success, leading to the establishment of a formidable professional relationship between Kraft and Brady.

Strain in the Relationship

Brady's relationship with Kraft was examined closely during some rocky points within the Patriots. According to reports, Brady and head coach Bill Belichick have had several disagreements in recent years, and Kraft stepped between them this season to restore certain privileges for Brady's personal trainer, Alex Guerrero, which led some players and staff members on edge.

Their relationship over time

There were certainly moments that suggested the friendship between Brady and Kraft was evolving, including when he chose to leave New England in 2020. Through his level of disappointment and Kraft conceding it was the correct decision for Brady, this conveys some emotional hold on their relationship that never existed before.

Insights from Former Players

Opinions from ex-Patriots Julian Edelman and Drew Bledsoe, which hinted at the power struggle between Kraft and Belichick, further underscored these necessary flares. In their accounts of Kraft and Belichick at a public event, they suggested there was an air you could cut with a knife in Foxborough, offering the more subtle view that great tension exists within key parts of the Patriots' inner circle.

It is a layered partnership that has defined the Patriots for two decades and continues to shape them today. It is also endlessly complicated, at times incredibly rewarding, and others distantly strained. They have certainly built plenty of common ground through their success on the field and experiences within the Patriots organization, while challenges to that dynamic and tension between them surely test how close they truly are.

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