It’s been over six years since Tom Brady last stepped foot inside Highmark Stadium, but this Sunday, he’s back in Buffalo-only this time, he’s not under center. He’ll be up in the booth, calling the Week 17 showdown between the Eagles and Bills for Fox.
This late-afternoon matchup is one of just two games in the 4:25 p.m. ET window, sharing the spotlight with a Giants-Raiders tilt that’s more about draft positioning than playoff implications.
For Brady, that means his attention will be focused squarely on a game with real stakes-and in a stadium that once treated him like public enemy No. 1.
Brady’s history in Buffalo is well-documented. As the longtime face of the Patriots, he spent two decades tormenting the Bills, racking up win after win in their home stadium. But as his dominance grew, so did the intensity of the rivalry-and the creativity of the fans.
Back in 2016, Bills Mafia began a bizarre tradition that quickly became infamous: throwing an adult-themed object onto the field during games against Brady and the Patriots. It was crude, it was unmistakable, and it became a recurring storyline every time New England rolled into town.
By the time Brady made what would be his final appearance in Buffalo as a player in 2019, the Bills organization had to publicly urge fans to cut it out. That didn’t stop someone from trying.
The object made another appearance in 2018, leading to an arrest. And even after Brady left New England, the tradition lingered-making at least one return when the Patriots visited without him.
Now, Brady returns to Highmark in a very different role-as a broadcaster, not a quarterback. He’s not wearing a helmet, he’s wearing a headset.
But that doesn’t mean the atmosphere will be any less charged. This is the final season in the Bills’ current home, with a brand-new stadium on the horizon.
Sunday marks the penultimate regular-season game in a building that’s seen its fair share of heartbreak, heroics, and yes, some truly wild fan behavior.
Whether or not Bills fans decide to revisit their infamous tradition remains to be seen. Officially, it’s not something anyone wants to see again.
Unofficially? Well, let’s just say Buffalo has never been shy about making its feelings known-especially when it comes to Tom Brady.
Fox might want to consider putting a protective barrier in front of the broadcast booth. Just in case.