Even in retirement, Tom Brady just can’t shake the quarterback instincts. The seven-time Super Bowl champion was in Seattle over the weekend to call the Seahawks-49ers divisional round showdown, but before he stepped into the broadcast booth, he was back on the field - and muscle memory took over.
Brady was spotted tossing the football around with a group of kids during pregame warmups. But it was what happened after he let one fly that caught fans' attention.
As he finished his throw, Brady instinctively brought his hands toward his midsection - the same motion quarterbacks make when reaching for the hand warmers attached to their jerseys. Of course, there were no hand warmers this time - just a heavy coat and a brisk Pacific Northwest chill.
Realizing the moment, Brady laughed it off and slipped his hands into his coat pockets.
It was a small gesture, but one that spoke volumes. Brady later reposted the video on his Instagram Story with a caption that said it all: “Different uniform... Same Feeling ❤️❤️❤️.”
That quarterback muscle memory doesn’t fade easily - especially when you’ve spent over two decades under center, dissecting defenses and leading game-winning drives. And while Brady may be calling plays from the booth now, moments like this remind us that the fire still burns.
The instincts are still there. The love for the game?
Undeniably intact.
Brady is set to return to the broadcast booth one more time this postseason, joining Kevin Burkhardt for the NFC Championship Game between the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams. It’s another big-stage moment for a guy who’s made a career out of them - only this time, the headset replaces the helmet.
But football isn’t the only arena where Brady is staying active. Earlier this month, he added a new title to his already stacked post-retirement resume: Chief Wellness Officer. In a video posted to Instagram, Brady announced his new role with eMed, a digital health company aiming to improve population health at scale.
“I’m here today to talk about eMed, where I proudly serve as the founding Chief Wellness Officer,” Brady said in the video. “We’re working on something that I believe really matters - improving population health at scale, so that people can feel better, perform better, and protect their long-term health.”
It’s a natural fit for Brady, whose TB12 brand has long emphasized holistic wellness, longevity, and peak performance. Now, he’s looking to take that philosophy to a broader audience, helping others tap into the same principles that fueled his legendary career.
Of course, when you’re Tom Brady, your name tends to pop up anytime there’s even a whisper of a quarterback vacancy. This past weekend, with Denver’s Bo Nix sidelined by a broken ankle, Brady’s name surfaced once again in speculative circles.
But let’s be clear - while the idea of a Brady comeback always stirs excitement, there’s no real indication he’s eyeing a return to the field. Still, the fact that his name continues to enter the conversation says everything about the legacy he’s left behind.
Whether it’s tossing a football on the sideline, calling games from the booth, or helping people improve their health, Tom Brady remains a fixture in the football world. He may be wearing a different uniform these days, but the quarterback instincts - and the passion - are as sharp as ever.