Tom Brady and Peyton Manning crafted one of the NFL’s most iconic rivalries, trading blows in games that defined an era. Their battles likely cost each other a few more Super Bowl rings, but the respect between them was always evident.
When Mike Macdonald's name was etched into the championship list this month, both legendary quarterbacks made sure to reach out. The Seattle Seahawks head coach shared his experience of hearing from Brady and Manning after clinching his first Super Bowl victory.
In a chat with Rich Eisen, Macdonald confirmed that both former rivals sent congratulatory messages following the triumph. While he didn't divulge specifics, he did mention his exchange with Brady.
“Tom Brady text me, that was cool,” Macdonald recounted, adding, “Peyton Manning.”
Though he kept the contents private, he shared his playful response to Brady: “I did tell him, I was like, ‘Hey thanks for stealing our OC.’”
This quip had some backstory. The Las Vegas Raiders recently hired Klint Kubiak away from Seattle to be their next head coach, a move that Brady, now a minority owner of the Raiders, helped orchestrate.
Macdonald has been on a mission to rebuild Seattle since taking the helm. The Seahawks posted a 10-7 record in 2024 with Geno Smith at quarterback, but it wasn't enough to secure a playoff spot.
In response, the front office made significant changes, parting ways with Smith and bringing in Sam Darnold. Fresh off a strong season with the Minnesota Vikings, Darnold's arrival was met with skepticism-but it proved to be a masterstroke.