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Despite leading the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles during his 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 both his former teammates and current Patriots players.
Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane was among those expressing anxiety about Brady’s position. “Personally, it makes me sick,” Spillane said Thursday during a Super Bowl week, via MassLive.com. “But at the end of the day [he’s a Patriot]; he has a dog in the fight. So for him to say it, it is what it is. At the end of the day, he’s the owner of the Las Vegas Raiders now, so he’s got 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 has a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders.
Spillane appeared in 13 regular season games in his first year in New England and recorded 48 tackles.
Brady reflected on his unprecedented run in New England during a recent edition of his “Let’s Go!” Sirius XM podcast with sportscaster Jim Gray saying, “We did it for 20 years. There was a little bit of a hiatus in there, but the Patriots are back and it’s a very exciting time for everybody in New England.”
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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 were not well received by 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’s probably going to be the quarterback,” Gronkowski said Wednesday during an appearance on “Up & Adams,” before adding, “He’s so competitive. He’s probably going to be the guy in the Super Bowl right now.”
Two-time Super Bowl winner and former Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork described Brady’s attitude as “bullcrap.”
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, chimed in, saying in a series of social media posts that he was “very disappointed” in the retired quarterback for “not rooting for your ex-teammate, Mike Vrabel.” Samuel also suggested that Brady was envious of Drake Maye’s progress.
Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs argued Brady’s role as a sports network broadcaster — not just a Patriots icon — explains his neutral stance. “Is Tony Romo still pulling for the Cowboys? I’d be surprised,” Diggs said Thursday. “I think Peyton Manning still loves Denver. I don’t hear him say too much about the Colts.”
Brady is Fox Sports’ lead NFL analyst and called last year’s Super Bowl.
