Tom Brady’s decision to stay neutral ahead of Super Bowl LX has stirred up plenty of conversation-and not all of it’s been friendly. The seven-time Super Bowl champ, who spent 20 seasons building a dynasty in New England, raised eyebrows this week when he said he doesn’t “have a dog in the fight” between the Patriots and Seahawks.
On the surface, it’s a simple, diplomatic answer. But for some in Foxborough, it didn’t sit right.
Brady made the comment during Monday’s episode of his Let’s Go! podcast, where he was asked about the big game. Rather than lean into his legacy with the Patriots, he kept things neutral: “May the best team win.”
That response didn’t land well with some of his former teammates and fans who still see him as the face of the Patriots’ golden era. Vince Wilfork, a longtime leader of those dominant Patriots defenses, voiced his disappointment earlier in the week. And on Thursday, linebacker Robert Spillane-currently anchoring the Patriots’ defense on a $33 million deal-added his voice to the chorus.
“Personally, it makes me sick,” Spillane said. “He has a dog in the fight.
For him to say that-it is what it is. But at the end of the day, he’s an owner of the Las Vegas Raiders now.
So he has to do what’s best for him.”
Spillane’s comments cut right to the heart of the issue: Brady’s evolving role in the NFL. He’s no longer just a retired legend or a broadcaster; he’s now part of the ownership group for the Raiders, a direct competitor of the Patriots.
That complicates things. When you’ve got business ties on the line, rooting publicly for another franchise-even one you helped turn into a dynasty-gets tricky.
Not everyone is piling on, though. Stefon Diggs came to Brady’s defense, offering a more nuanced take on the situation. The Pro Bowl wide receiver pointed out that once players move on, allegiances often shift-especially when new roles come into play.
“Does Tony Romo still pull for the Cowboys? I’d be surprised,” Diggs said.
“I think Peyton Manning still loves Denver. I don’t hear him say too much about the Colts.
But everybody’s different.”
Diggs also acknowledged the reality of Brady’s new role in the league: “Tom won a lot in New England, but he’s also part-owner of the Raiders. So I don’t expect him to have a dog in the fight in this situation. Your time with a team doesn’t determine your future, I guess.”
It’s a fair point. Brady’s legacy in New England is cemented-six Super Bowl titles, countless comebacks, and two decades of dominance. But legacies don’t always dictate present-day loyalties, especially when business is involved.
Still, for fans and former teammates who view Brady as the ultimate Patriot, hearing him sit on the fence before a Super Bowl featuring his old team feels like a gut punch. For them, it’s not just about who wins-it’s about who you stand with when the stakes are highest.
And while Brady may be looking at things through the lens of an executive now, for many in New England, he’ll always be No. 12. So when he says he doesn’t have a dog in the fight, it’s going to sting a little-whether he meant it that way or not.
As for the game itself, it’s a familiar Super Bowl matchup. The Patriots will face the Seattle Seahawks, the same team Brady bested in Super Bowl XLIX back in 2015. That game ended with one of the most iconic plays in NFL history-a Malcolm Butler interception at the goal line that sealed the win for New England.
This time around, Brady will be watching from the broadcast booth. But whether he likes it or not, a lot of fans will still be watching him, too-waiting to see which way his heart leans, even if his words say otherwise.