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Despite leading the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles during his storied two-decade career with the franchise, Tom Brady said he doesn’t have “a dog in the fight” in this week’s big game.
Brady’s stance drew strong reactions from his former teammates and current Patriots players.
Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane was among those who expressed angst over Brady’s stance. “Personally, it makes me sick,” Spillane said Thursday during a Super Bowl week press briefing, via MassLive.com. “But in the end [he’s a Patriot]; he has a dog in the fight. So for him to say that, that’s what it is. Ultimately, he now owns the Las Vegas Raiders, so he has to do what’s best for him. »
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New England Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane (14) speaks to the media during opening night of Super Bowl LX at the San Jose Convention Center on February 2, 2026 in San Jose, California. (Cary Edmondson/Imagn Images)
Brady owns a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders.
Spillane appeared in 13 regular season games during his first year in New England, recording 48 tackles.
Brady reflected on his unprecedented run in New England during a recent edition of his “Let’s Go!” Sirius
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He added that he hoped to “see a good game” on Sunday.
Tom Brady looks on before the NFC Wild Card Playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field on January 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Those comments didn’t go down well with Patriots greats, including Rob Gronkowski, who played with Brady in New England and Tampa Bay. Gronkowski said he hasn’t discussed this week’s Patriots-Seahawks game with Brady, but suggested a reason for the seven-time Super Bowl winner’s neutral stance.
“He probably wants to be the quarterback,” Gronkowski said Wednesday during an appearance on “Up & Adams,” before adding, “He’s so competitive. He probably wants to be the Super Bowl guy right now.”
Vince Wilfork, a two-time Super Bowl winner and former Patriots defensive tackle, called Brady’s catch “bullshit.”
Former New England Patriots player Vince Wilfork reacts before a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium on September 25, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Paul Rutherford/USA TODAY Sports)
Another former New England star, Asante Samuel, weighed in, saying in a series of social media posts that he was “very disappointed” in the retired quarterback for “not supporting his ex-teammate, Mike Vrabel.” Samuel also suggested that Brady was jealous of Drake Maye’s rise.
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs argued that Brady’s role as a sports network broadcaster — and not just a Patriots icon — explains his neutral stance. “Is Tony Romo still playing for the Cowboys? I’d be surprised,” Diggs said Thursday. “I think Peyton Manning still likes Denver. I don’t hear him talk about the Colts too much.”
Brady is Fox Sports’ lead NFL analyst and called last year’s Super Bowl.
