Tom Brady may be retired, but his presence still looms large over Foxborough - and not always in the way Patriots fans might hope. After New England’s 29-19 Super Bowl LX loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the seven-time champion found himself catching heat, not for anything he did on the field, but for what he didn’t say off of it.
Brady, who spent 20 seasons building the Patriots dynasty, took a neutral stance ahead of this year's title game, choosing not to publicly back his former team. On his “Let’s Go” podcast, he made it clear he wasn’t picking sides.
“I don't have a dog in the fight in this one,” Brady said. “May the best team win. And in terms of the Patriots, this is a new chapter in New England, and I'm glad everyone's embraced the Mike Vrabel regime, all the amazing players that have worked so hard to get their clubs in this position.”
That comment didn’t sit well with everyone. Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane admitted he felt “sick” hearing Brady’s diplomatic tone. And he wasn’t alone - plenty around the league and in the fanbase were hoping for a more vocal show of support from the face of the franchise.
The Patriots, led by rookie quarterback Drake Maye and first-year head coach Mike Vrabel, struggled early against a Seahawks defense that came prepared. Seattle jumped out to a 9-0 lead behind three Jason Myers field goals, and New England’s offense couldn’t find its rhythm in the first half.
Maye found a spark after halftime, tossing two touchdowns and finishing the night with 295 yards on 27-of-43 passing. But he also threw two interceptions, took six sacks, and ultimately couldn’t dig the Patriots out of the early hole. The offense showed flashes, but the consistency just wasn’t there - not the kind you need on the biggest stage in football.
One of Brady’s former teammates, Jason McCourty, didn’t mince words when breaking down the loss. Speaking on the “Up & Adams” show, McCourty pointed the finger at the coaching staff, particularly Vrabel, for the offense’s lack of execution.
“There were throws that I felt like, in the course of the game, [Maye] missed,” McCourty said. “And that was probably five throws.
But overall, when you watch that game, a lot of that to me fell on the coaches and gameplan-oriented. ... There's enough blame to go around for every coach and player that's on the offensive side of the ball.”
Vrabel, of course, was brought in to usher in a new era in New England - and in many ways, he’s already made his mark. After a 4-13 campaign in 2024, he led the Patriots back to the Super Bowl in just one season and was named NFL Coach of the Year for his efforts. That turnaround alone is no small feat.
Still, for a franchise that measures success in Lombardi Trophies, the loss stings. And when the dust settles, the conversation will shift from what went wrong in the Super Bowl to what needs to happen next.
Can Maye take the next step? Will Vrabel adjust his approach offensively?
And yes - will Brady ever fully embrace the Patriots' post-Brady era?
For now, the Patriots are left to regroup. They’ve got a promising young quarterback, a respected head coach, and a defense that kept them in the fight.
But if they want to get back to the mountaintop - and stay there - they’ll need more than just nostalgia. They’ll need execution, unity, and maybe, just maybe, a little more love from the legend who helped build the house.