TAMPA, Fla. Tampa Bay Buccaneers full-back Tom Brady spoke briefly of coach Bruce Arians on Thursday as the Bucs prepare to tackle the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl next week, saying, “I think everyone wants to win for him. “
At 68, Arians will be the second oldest head coach in a Super Bowl. He won two as an assistant to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“He’s a wonderful man.” A great leader. A good person. ‘ A great friend, ” Brady said about Arians, who he got to know when Arians retired briefly and worked in broadcasting in 2018. ‘ He is very loyal. way to communicate effectively with everyone around here. ‘
Brady developed a penchant for Arians after watching his documentary “A Football Life”. It highlights the rise of Arians to become a first-time head coach at age 60 with the Arizona Cardinals, his tough coaching style, his contempt for playing politics and his desire to keep things real.
“Everyone has a great love for him, for the person he is,” Brady said of Arians. ‘There is no one who would ever say anything bad about BA. He loves everyone just as much. And I think everyone wants to win for him. ‘
Some have questioned how Brady handles the style of Arians, with a very different attitude from Bill Belichick that sometimes includes calling players out in public. Brett Favre and Rob Ninkovich, good friends of Brady, even publicly criticized Arians about it, and Ninkovich questioned his profession.
But Arians has always said, ‘It’s just honesty,’ and Brady said he can handle hard coaching.
“He puts a lot into it, expects a lot from it,” Brady said. “He has great expectations for us every day during practice. I am very excited that he is recognized as he is. I know he’s twice [AP] Coach of the year, but he did a really great job with the team in very unfavorable situations this year. I just love playing for him. ‘
The feeling is mutual.
Says Arians of Brady during the Halas Trophy presentation after the Bucs won the NFC title: “The belief that he gave everyone in the organization that it could be done – it only cost one man.”