Once-upon-a-time in the New England kingdom of Foxboro, a cantankerous, curmudgeon baron ruled over his subjects with a firm hand. While his immediate flocks were often less than thrilled with his operational tactics, the surrounding populous showered him with adulation as the results of his efforts brought the community heaps of praise as they basked in the glow of championship performances.

As time marched on, the sweat-shirted ruler led his charges to the summit of the awaiting super challenges nine times, six times bringing home the shiny trophy and the adulation of all. But alas, like sweet milk turning sour under the heat of a mid-day sun, finally, the relationship between the sharp-tongued boss and his prized G.O.A.T. (greatest-of-all-time) herd leader began to disintegrate. Despite claiming 17 divisional titles and those six Super Bowl wins in their 20 years together, the GOAT departed for greener and warmer southern pastures.

The GOAT lived happily-ever-after. The baron — not so much.

Simply put, Tom Brady’s decision to leave the all-winning New England Patriots and cast his lot with what had been a losing Tampa Bay Buccaneer franchise couldn’t have turned out better for him. With Brady under center, the Buccaneers turned around a 7-9 record last season into becoming the first team in NFL history to host a Super Bowl on their home field. In their 45-year history before his arrival, the Buccaneers had only achieved 14 winning seasons and appeared in one Super Bowl, a victory over the Oakland Raiders in 2003.

It is ancient history now, but the Buccaneers’ first season in 1975 lives on for its ineptitude. The coach of the Bucs in that first year was legendary college coach John McKay. McKay had won four NCAA National Championships at USC before joining the Bucs. In that first year, McKay was a reporter’s dream for some of the quotes he uttered.

As the team stumbled to loss after loss, McKay told the media, “We can’t win at home, and we can’t win on the road. What we need is a neutral site.” After another team defeat, a reporter asked McKay what he thought about his team’s execution. His reply, “I’m in favor of it.”

While Bill Belichick would never be heard issuing such public utterances, what he may be saying in private could be most interesting. In his first season without Brady as his quarterback, he suffered his first losing season (7-9) since 2000 – or the last time Brady didn’t start a game. This year marks only the third time since then that Belichick’s Patriots failed to qualify for the playoffs.

During the time the Belichick/Brady Patriots ravished the NFL landscape, 300 miles away in ‘the City of Brotherly Love’ a cartoon-like coach was leading a flock of Eagles to their first Super Bowl appearance in team history in 2004. Ironically, that team lost to the B&B crew 24-21.

Years later, in December of 2012, Eagles owner Jeff Lurie gave Andy Reid his walking papers, citing the all too familiar line, “the team needs to go in a different direction.” Based upon the circus atmosphere surrounding the 2020 Philadelphia Eagles, that direction is due south, as to the bottom of the NFC’s poor eastern division.

Just like the lyrics in Wilber Harrison’s 1959 hit record (I’m Going to Kansas City), a week after his Philadelphia dismissal, on January 7, 2013, Reid headed to the plains of the Midwest and the job as the coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. Excuse me, Mr. Lurie, but have you seen his record since? He has definitely taken the Chiefs in “a different direction.”

In fourteen years as the Eagles’ headman, Reid’s teams compiled a .583 winning percentage and that one Super Bowl appearance. In his eight years with the Chiefs, his teams have registered a winning percentage of .711 and are poised to defend the Super Bowl crown they won last year, defeating the San Francisco 49ers 31-20. Along the way, Reid has been named the NFL Coach-of-the-Year three times, has earned the admiration and respect of players, fans, and opponents alike, and has turned Arrowhead Stadium into the home of the AFC championship game for the past three seasons.

Perhaps it is fitting that his reward for the 2020 season’s achievements is a return meeting with Tom Brady and his new Tampa Bay teammates, in of all places, the Buccaneers’ home field. Only this time, Reid will be accompanied by the league’s most efficient offense and young quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who already owns the distinction of being named both a Super Bowl and regular-season MVP.

I am unable to uncover any statistics regarding how often fairy tales come true. But Super Bowl LV will be one for the ages. The intrigue is in place: can a 43-year-old QB out-duel a 25-year old; is Brady’s defection to Tampa Bay rewarded with a championship; can Reid gain revenge over the loss to Brady in 2004? Stay tuned, and as Michael Irvin once said, “get your popcorn ready!”

Just a word of warning to Belichick and Lurie, as you watch the proceedings, don’t get any kernels stuck in your throat.