Tom Brady is the NFL’s ultimate paradox—simultaneously the most hated and most respected quarterback to ever play the game.
Love him or loathe him, the GOAT left an undeniable mark on football. Here’s why he’ll forever be both despised and revered in equal measure.
1. Too Many Rings to Count
Haters will say it’s rigged, but the man has SEVEN Super Bowl rings. That’s more than any single franchise. Fans of other teams had to endure watching him hoist the Lombardi Trophy again… and again… and again.
2. The Tuck Rule Game
Raiders fans have never recovered from the 2001 AFC Divisional Round. That infamous “Tuck Rule” call launched Brady’s dynasty and crushed the souls of Oakland faithful. Conspiracy theories still run wild.
3. Deflategate Drama
Accusations of underinflated footballs in the 2014 AFC Championship only fueled Brady hate. Was it cheating? Was it overblown? Either way, he served a four-game suspension and still came back to win the Super Bowl that season. Classic Brady.
4. 28-3: The Falcons’ Worst Nightmare
Falcons fans are still in therapy after watching Brady engineer the greatest Super Bowl comeback ever. Down 28-3, he led the Patriots to an overtime win, shattering Atlanta’s title dreams and cementing his villain status.
5. He Left New England… and Still Won
Patriots fans were heartbroken when Brady left for Tampa Bay in 2020. Then he went and won another Super Bowl—proving he didn’t need Bill Belichick. New England cried. The rest of the league sighed.
6. Ageless Wonder
Brady defied time, playing elite football into his 40s while other QBs his age were rocking dad bods on their couches. His avocado ice cream diet and TB12 Method kept him in MVP shape while making the rest of us feel bad about our life choices.
7. He’s Too Perfect
The guy has the looks, had the supermodel wife (Gisele Bündchen, at least for a while), and a net worth that makes our bank accounts weep. Plus, his social media game is annoyingly charming. It’s just not fair.
8. “We’re Onto Cincinnati”
Brady’s Patriot teams were cold, calculated, and annoyingly robotic. Whether it was a press conference deflection or their ability to ignore distractions, the New England dynasty crushed emotions and kept winning.
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9. The Ultimate Clutch Gene
Brady thrived under pressure like no other QB in history. Fourth-quarter comebacks, game-winning drives, last-minute dagger throws—he did it all. Opposing fans knew if Brady had the ball with two minutes left, the game was already over.
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10. Retired. Un-Retired. Retired Again.
Brady officially retired in 2022. Then came back. Then retired again in 2023—this time “for good.” NFL fans barely had time to process their emotions before he was back under center. Now, we all wait nervously to see if he pulls a Michael Jordan and returns again.
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