Tom Brady spent 20 seasons with the New England Patriots before joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, and the quarterback's legacy is tied to both franchises
03:34 ET, 08 Nov 2025
Tom Brady faces the Dallas Cowboys
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The Bucs and Pats face each other on Sunday(Image: Getty)
Tom Brady, the legendary NFL quarterback, is best known for his time with the New England Patriots where he led the team to multiple victories throughout the 2000s.
Despite being inducted into the Patriots' Hall of Fame, Brady refuses to show favoritism between the two franchises he's played for. This Sunday, the New England Patriots will face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. The game is being touted by many, including Brady himself, as potentially the best of the year.
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While Brady will be providing commentary for the Lions-Commanders game on FOX, he assures fans he'll be keeping a close eye on the action in Tampa.
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Brady avoids the question
"Just... don't ask me to pick any sides here," he quipped. Although the comment was made in jest, Brady skillfully avoided showing preference for either team.
His commentary work has been under scrutiny, with some critics labeling him a distraction to the FOX NFL broadcast booth, reports the Express US.
Brady's legacy is intertwined with both the Patriots and the Buccaneers, as well as his family. He believes that both teams have something to prove, with the Patriots entering the game with a 7-2 record and leading the AFC East, while the Buccaneers are sitting pretty at 6-2 atop the NFC South.
Tom Brady speaks during the Miami Leaders' Summit
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Tom Brady won't pick between the Patriots of Buccaneers(Image: Getty)
Brady's two-year tenure with the Buccaneers resulted in another Super Bowl win, a Super Bowl LV MVP award, and an additional 108 touchdown passes.
Brady inked a fully guaranteed two-year, $50 million deal with Tampa Bay in 2020. He subsequently defeated Patrick Mahomes to capture his final Super Bowl before hanging up his cleats for good.
Throughout his two decades with the Patriots, Brady compiled a 219-64 regular-season record, claimed six Super Bowl victories, collected four Super Bowl MVP honors, and was crowned NFL MVP on two occasions. He accumulated 74,571 yards and 541 touchdowns while in New England, with both figures standing as franchise records for a single organization.
Tom Brady attends his statue unveiling ceremony in Foxborough
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Brady won Super Bowls with both organizations(Image: Getty)
Brady guided the squad to 18 division crowns and nine AFC Championship game appearances. His relationship with New England remained complicated, even though he became the most accomplished Patriot in team history.
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In the Apple TV+ documentary Dynasty, Brady confessed that he "had no way" of returning to the organization in 2020. "Coach Belichick and I did what we loved and competed for 20 years together," Brady revealed in the production.
Brady becomes Fox Sports commentator
"But I wasn't going to sign another contract (in New England) even if I wanted to play until I was 50. Based on how things had gone, I wasn't going to sign up for more of it."
Brady has stepped away from the game and currently serves as the primary NFL commentator for Fox Sports. Across 23 seasons, he amassed 89,214 passing yards, 649 touchdowns, 35 playoff victories, and 15 Pro Bowl nods, cementing his legacy as one of football's greatest players ever.