Would Tom Brady make a good head coach?

Submitted by 1blueeye on August 1st, 2019 at 8:23 PM

I was thinking about future UM coaches. Harbaugh played for UM and is now our coach. Juwan Howard has made over $100 million dollars playing basketball. He isn’t coaching for the money. It’s a passion. With Brady eventually retiring, he seems like a guy that football is his only passion. I can’t picture him doing TV and sitting on a beach. Playing with Belichek for 2 decades, the guy has been part of a dynasty. Could you see Brady becoming a head coach someday? And odds he would do it at Michigan?

J.

August 1st, 2019 at 10:12 PM ^

That's true -- but a lot of sixth-round draft picks who basically got passed on the collegiate depth chart by the phenom with loads of God-given talent do.

Charles Woodson fits this trope.  Tom Brady doesn't; he doesn't have anywhere near the level of natural athletic gifts.

Red is Blue

August 2nd, 2019 at 11:25 AM ^

Granted he doesn't have an amazing level of athletic ability, but I guarantee he has an amazing amount of something (ability to see the field, work ethic...).  Point is people off the charts in some area athletic ability, intuition, work ethic... often don't get why other people can't replicate them.

MGoGrendel

August 2nd, 2019 at 1:42 PM ^

Typically, the great players don't have the patients to coach kids without natural talent.  Coaches that weren't talented (like Sparky Anderson) or had lessor roles on talented teams (Steve Kerr) make better coaches.

That's my observation of watching sports for half a decade.  I'm sure there are exceptions to the rule.

Eli

August 1st, 2019 at 9:36 PM ^

Yes. I am not sure when it was, but I remember an interview where he was asked if he would be interested. He said No and something about how all he wants to do is sleep until noon everyday. Things change though so who knows if he'd be interested someday. 

Gentleman Squirrels

August 1st, 2019 at 9:08 PM ^

Why would he want to though? He's set financially. Might as well spend time with family. He can start a QB coaching clinic if he wants to -  similar to what Peyton Manning does. 

For future head coaches, this staff has two strong options in Chris Partridge and Josh Gattis. My money is on Partridge being a future head coach at Michigan. Either directly after if Harbaugh stays for another 10-15 years. Or 2 head coaches from now.

PackardRoadBlue

August 2nd, 2019 at 9:24 AM ^

I think quarterback is the one position that can lead to HC jobs.  A lot of those guys, especially the veterans, have spent many years leading on the field and spending countless hours in the film room breaking down plays.

Brady is a hell of a leader and while Belichick is the head coach, Tom does a lot of work with his receivers and oline.  The man understands the game better than most and would probably be a great recruiter with his accomplishments and charisma

m_go_T

August 2nd, 2019 at 2:23 PM ^

Defensive Back more so, especially safety.  I think Urban, Saban, Dantonio, and Gattis, (and others I am sure) played defensive back.  My guess is that playing safety gives you a good understanding of what all three levels of the defense are doing, as well as what passing and running attacks are trying to do on offense.   

But really all the positions lead to good coaches.  Belichick was a tight end/lineman, Dabo was a wide receiver, McVay was a QB and DB, Vrabel was a linebacker (books still out if he is a good head coach, but people seem to agree he was a great assistant).  

I think the common thread is none were very good football players, with maybe the exception of Vrabel.  

MichiganStan

August 1st, 2019 at 9:46 PM ^

He would make an epic QB coach at Michigan. I imagine every top QB would want to come here to learn from the goat

butuka21

August 1st, 2019 at 9:56 PM ^

No I don’t see him becoming a head coach or a coach at all...maybe a John elway type position but still don’t even see that.  I see him holding training camps and promoting TB12 

Harbody

August 1st, 2019 at 10:10 PM ^

He has the work ethic for it, if he goes all in. Coaching is a grind, as we know, and no one grinds harder than Brady.

I agree with the other posters, though, who say it seems unlikely. I see him in more of a front office or advisor role, living the good life outside of football.  

Mr Miggle

August 1st, 2019 at 10:21 PM ^

He'd be getting a very late start. I'm sure he'd be in demand as a QB coach, not so sure about his path to becoming a head coach. Spending long hours as an assistant, recruiting and learning how to manage a program, is not how I see Tom Brady. Being a private QB coach or a consultant for NFL teams I can see.

 

 

Double-D

August 1st, 2019 at 11:40 PM ^

I would suspect Tom Brady would make a great coach.  

He is a natural leader with a positive attitude.   He is the 1st into camp every day and makes a point of getting to know all of the new players on the team.  His confidence is legendary.  

His level of preparation, practice, film study and game planning would fit the criteria.  He has proven to love the game and love competition.  

Juwan Howard has $ but wants to be in the game.  Brady could be like that. 

Solecismic

August 2nd, 2019 at 12:10 AM ^

I would think the same of Peyton Manning, who prepared for games more thoroughly than most coaches do. But he's also a fine commercial actor, even though he doesn't need the money.

Who knows? If he wants to coach, I'm sure he'd be good at it. He wouldn't even have to be good at it to have an impact on recruiting, should he choose the college route.

Bluedream

August 2nd, 2019 at 1:33 AM ^

Probably won’t coach...if he does it’ll be in the NFL and he is more likely to be a GM or part of an ownership group than a coach  

Guy has more money than any coach in the game, a wife worth more than he is and kids. 

You think he wants to babysit 18-22 year old kids, work 100 hour weeks 4 months a year, spend 48 weeks a year working and dealing with boosters, alums and administration? 

There aren’t many superstar QBs who go into coaching. Career back ups, journeymen and guys who didn’t make the league coach. 

Craptain Crunch

August 2nd, 2019 at 4:51 AM ^

come on. Everyone knows Tom wants to open up a head shop on state street after he retires from playing football

blueinbeantown

August 2nd, 2019 at 7:50 AM ^

No way.  If he stays involved in football, will likely be more in an Elway type role.  Plus, he'd have trouble getting anyone other than Alex Guerrero as SC coach and not sure college kids will enjoy the diet.  

Come on, grind it out with 16-22 year olds (recruiting and coaching) or grind Gisele on the beach in Costa Rica?

bronxblue

August 2nd, 2019 at 9:57 AM ^

Maybe?  He definitely seems like a guy who pays attention at football, but I wouldn't assume he's equipped to do anything else at that level.  Also, he seems like maybe not the easiest guy to be around.

Worcester Wolverine

August 2nd, 2019 at 10:04 AM ^

I think Brady has the X and O tactical mindset for coaching, and I think he's a good leader who can get a lot out of his fellow players. I'm not sure of his ability or desire to do some of the non-football type stuff involved in being a college head coach though, like recruiting to some extent but also fundraising and outreach. I'd love if he became even more involved in Michigan football in some capacity after he retires though. 

eth2

August 2nd, 2019 at 10:37 AM ^

According to this NFL.com story, he has no desire to coach. Says he doesn't have the patience for it. Perhaps he has changed his mind, but I would not count on seeing him coaching on the sidelines at Michigan or anywhere else.