The New England Patriots are back on the NFL’s biggest stage - and this time, it’s a full-circle moment. They’re set to face the Seattle Seahawks in a Super Bowl rematch of one of the most unforgettable finishes in league history: Super Bowl XLIX. That game ended with Malcolm Butler’s iconic goal-line interception, and now, over a decade later, the Patriots are hoping for another chapter in their championship legacy.
But this time around, there’s a new face leading the charge in Foxborough - and it’s a familiar one. Mike Vrabel, a former Patriots linebacker and three-time Super Bowl champion under Bill Belichick, now finds himself at the helm as head coach.
For New England fans, it’s a nostalgic twist: a former player now guiding the franchise back to the promised land. After a few years of transition and turbulence post-Brady, the Patriots are once again contenders, and the fanbase is buzzing.
One person who isn’t picking sides in this matchup? Tom Brady.
The former Patriots quarterback - and the face of two decades of dominance in New England - is keeping things neutral ahead of Sunday’s showdown. Now a lead analyst at FOX and a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, Brady made it clear he’s not pulling for either team.
“I don't have a dog in the fight in this one,” Brady said this week. “May the best team win, and in terms of the Patriots, this is a new chapter in New England, and I'm glad everyone's embraced the Mike Vrabel regime… There was a little bit of a hiatus in there, but the Patriots are back and it's a very exciting time for everyone in New England.”
Brady’s comments were measured, respectful, and diplomatic - but not everyone saw it that way.
Former Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel, never one to hold back, took issue with Brady’s neutral stance. In a fiery post on X (formerly Twitter), Samuel didn’t mince words.
“Tom Brady I am highly I mean highly disappointed in you not rooting for your ex teammate, Mike Vrabel who is about to do something special,” Samuel wrote. “I’m going to fye your a** up one of these mornings. Tag Brady let him know I’m on his a**.”
It’s a strong reaction, but it underscores just how personal this run is for some former Patriots. For Samuel, seeing Vrabel - a locker room leader during those early dynasty years - now coaching the team to a Super Bowl appearance feels like a moment worth celebrating. And in his eyes, Brady should be right there with him, cheering it on.
But there’s more to Brady’s neutrality than meets the eye. As a part-owner of the Raiders, Brady has to walk a delicate line.
Publicly rooting for another AFC team - especially one that could be a direct competitor in the near future - would raise eyebrows. Add in the fact that Brady played a role in the Raiders’ recent hiring of Klint Kubiak, the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator, as their new head coach, and the waters get even murkier.
So Brady’s decision to stay neutral isn’t just about diplomacy - it’s business. And it’s a reflection of his new role in the league: not just as a legend of the game, but as someone now operating behind the scenes in team ownership.
Still, it’s hard not to feel the emotion surrounding this game. For Patriots fans, this is more than just a chance at another title - it’s a potential passing of the torch moment.
Vrabel represents a bridge between the Belichick-Brady era and whatever comes next. And if he can deliver a Super Bowl win as a head coach, it would be a full-circle moment worthy of the franchise’s storied history.
As for Brady, he’ll be in the booth on Sunday night, calling the action with his usual poise and insight. Whether or not he’s quietly pulling for his old team, we may never know. But one thing’s for sure - the Patriots are back on the big stage, and the NFL world will be watching.