Bill Belichick and gushy displays of emotion have never quite gone together.
It took the departure of undisputed greatness and a fellow gargantuan of his industry to breach that icy exterior, the end of 20 years alongside Tom Brady warranting a heartfelt tribute in honour of the quarterback's history-making legacy.
Brady was labelled one of the 'original creators' of a dynasty that parades six Super Bowl titles, 13 AFC East division crowns and 17 playoff appearances over two decades, across which the infamous sixth-round draft pick has pieced together two Hall of Fame-worthy careers into one.