Tom Brady was back in the spotlight on Saturday-not for a comeback under center, but for a pregame appearance that turned heads both on and off the field. The seven-time Super Bowl champion and current FOX Sports lead analyst made waves with a rare $600,000 Rolex on his wrist and a surprise meet-up with 49ers brass ahead of San Francisco’s divisional playoff clash with the Seattle Seahawks.
Let’s start with the wristwear. Brady posted a casual Instagram Story mid-broadcast, showing off a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona “Rainbow” in 18k Everose Gold.
This isn’t your average luxury timepiece-it features a pavé diamond dial, diamond-set lugs, and a bezel lined with 36 baguette-cut sapphires arranged in a rainbow gradient. Market estimates for this specific configuration have topped $600,000, and Brady wore it like it was just another Saturday night.
His caption? A laid-back “Okkkkkkk 👍”-classic Brady, letting the watch speak for itself.
But it wasn’t just about the bling. Cameras also caught Brady on the Levi’s Stadium field pregame, sharing a moment with 49ers GM John Lynch and CEO Jed York. In a scene that felt more like a backyard game than a playoff warmup, Brady tossed the football around with York’s young son-an easygoing gesture that still had fans buzzing.
Of course, there’s more to this than nostalgia. Brady grew up in San Mateo, a diehard 49ers fan during the Candlestick Park era.
That connection runs deep, even as he now holds a minority ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders. So while he’s a Raider in the boardroom, the heartstrings still pull toward the Bay.
That said, the NFL has drawn some clear lines when it comes to Brady’s unique dual role as broadcaster and team stakeholder. Under the terms of his 10-year, $375 million deal with FOX Sports, Brady is barred from attending in-person production meetings-a move designed to avoid any conflict of interest. The league has also restricted him from visiting other teams’ practice facilities during the week, a policy shaped in part by his past playing relationships, including with Lynch, his former Pro Bowl teammate from 2004.
However, there’s still some gray area when it comes to game-day access. The league has allowed certain exceptions, especially when it comes to pregame field availability, as long as Brady keeps things professional and within bounds. That’s the balance he’s walking now-part-owner, part-analyst, full-time football icon.
As for the game itself, the 49ers couldn’t match the energy of their pregame festivities. Seattle’s defense came out swinging, holding San Francisco to just six points in a gritty, low-scoring battle that echoed their regular-season matchup. The Niners never quite found their rhythm, and the Seahawks capitalized, delivering a playoff blow that sent San Francisco packing.
Brady, meanwhile, stayed above the fray-literally and figuratively. Whether it’s field-level conversations with execs or flexing a half-million-dollar timepiece on social media, he continues to be a central figure in the NFL’s evolving landscape. He may not be throwing touchdowns anymore, but make no mistake: Tom Brady still knows how to make an entrance.