Even the greatest of all time has his limits — and for Tom Brady, ranking a longtime rival above his beloved New England Patriots might have crossed one.
On this week’s episode of his “Let’s Go!” podcast, the seven-time Super Bowl champion admitted he felt “sick” putting one of New England’s fiercest historical enemies at the top of his latest NFL Power Rankings.
“I’m not gonna lie — I didn’t want to do it,” Brady said, half-laughing, half-grimacing. “But you’ve got to be honest about who’s playing the best football right now.”
Brady didn’t reveal the team immediately, but fans quickly connected the dots — it’s none other than the New York Jets, who’ve surged into AFC contention behind their dominant defense and breakout play from quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
For Patriots fans, the idea of Brady — the face of the dynasty that tormented New York for two decades — crowning the Jets as the league’s top team feels almost unthinkable.
Still, Brady emphasized that his choice wasn’t emotional — it was based on performance.
“Look, I’ve been in that division for 20 years,” he said. “It’s weird seeing the Jets finally putting it together, but you can’t deny what they’re doing on the field.”
The admission sent shockwaves through social media, with fans flooding the comments. Some praised Brady for his objectivity, while others joked that “Foxborough just collectively gasped.”
It’s not the first time Brady has spoken candidly about the Patriots’ rivals since retiring. Earlier this month, he admitted that watching the AFC East evolve without him has been “strange,” but that he still keeps an eye on how each team stacks up.
“It’s a new era,” Brady said. “I love New England forever — but the league moves fast. You’ve got to give credit where it’s due.”
Whether it was the Jets, Bills, or even the Dolphins sitting atop his list, one thing’s clear — for Tom Brady, objectivity doesn’t always come easy.
And for Patriots fans? Hearing their hero praise an old rival might just sting more than any loss this season.
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