Fifteen years into their remarkable partnership, with their fourth Super Bowl crown secured in dramatic style, Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have no plans to slow down.
"I'm still in the midst of my career," the 37-year-old Brady said on Monday, not ready to talk about his place in NFL history.
"I just love the game. I love playing. I love representing our team."
Brady and Belichick have endured to become arguably the most successful coach-quarterback pairing.
With their 28-24 come-from-behind triumph over Seattle in the NFL's title showpiece, the Patriots ended a 10-year title drought, easing the bitter memories of two Super Bowl losses to the New York Giants in that span.
They also denied the Seahawks the second straight Super Bowl crown that would have established a young Seattle team as the NFL's newest dynasty.
It was an impressive end to a season in which Brady and the Pats looked to be showing their age, and accusations of cheating in the "Deflategate" controversy.
With the NFL still probing whether the Patriots purposely used under-inflated footballs to gain an edge in a playoff win over Indianapolis, Brady said he was not concerned if the issue would shadow his achievements.
"I just haven't had much thought into that. We've just been focusing on our game and I'm sure that stuff will take care of itself over the next, however long it takes.
"It was a great accomplishment by our team last night. It was a great victory. We should all be proud."
Although Brady snagged his third Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award, it was unknown cornerback Malcolm Butler who made the play that saved the Patriots.
Butler recognised the formation being used by Seahawks' quarterback Russell Wilson and intercepted the short pass in the waning seconds that would have given Seattle victory.
"It happened so quick," said Brady, who jumped up and down on the sideline when he realised what Butler had done.
"There was a lot of highs and lows to the game and that was a great high. It took a great effort, like I said. Malcolm made a huge play to save our season. It took a lot of guys, a lot of effort and a lot of individual efforts. Collectively as a team, we made plays to get the job done."
The fact that Butler - unclaimed in the NFL draft after toiling in the lower ranks of college ball - was even there was a testament to Belichick's uncanny ability to find championship material in unexpected places.
That includes his most famous long shot - sixth-round draft pick Brady.
"Sometimes things just work out," Belichick said of the inexact science of team building. "It's not always a great plan. Sometimes, it's just the way things fall."
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