While many consider Bill Belichick the greatest NFL coach of all time, former Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel strongly disagrees. Having played under Belichick for five seasons and winning two Super Bowls, Samuel has firsthand experience with the coach's methods. However, he believes the credit for the Patriots' dynasty belongs primarily to Tom Brady.
In a recent interview with CBS Sports, Samuel dismissed the notion of Belichick being the GOAT, attributing the Patriots' success squarely to Brady. He argued that true greatness requires success in various circumstances, questioning Belichick's record without Brady. Samuel emphasized his personal experience witnessing Brady's impact, claiming it was an open secret within the team.
This isn't the first time Samuel has criticized Belichick. Last year, he criticized the “Patriot Way” on the "I AM ATHLETE" podcast, suggesting it was a form of indoctrination. He expressed his focus on financial security for his family, implying Belichick shared similar motivations. Samuel also challenged Belichick to win a Super Bowl without Brady to solidify his claim to the GOAT title.
While Belichick did win two Super Bowls as the Giants' defensive coordinator before the Patriots era, Samuel remains unconvinced. Interestingly, Samuel's son, Asante Samuel Jr., currently plays cornerback for the Los Angeles Chargers.
