Quitting a Hall of Famer cold turkey: How teams have handled losing their franchise QB

Listen, there’s no other way to put it - losing a Hall of Fame caliber quarterback SUCKS. Whether Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill take the first snap for the New Orleans Saints next year, it will be the first without Drew Brees since 2006. I wanted to see what the transition has been like for other teams that were put into a similar predicament: losing their Hall of Fame quality longtime starting quarterbacks.

Head Coach: Bill Belichick

Last year with Tom Brady: 2019

Did they make the playoffs in Brady’s last year: Yes

First playoff appearance without Brady: N/A

Replacement for the year after: Cam Newton

How they acquired his replacement: Signed in free agency the year after

Record the year after Brady: 7-9

This one is fresh in our minds, for good reason.