Let go by the very team where he spent nearly two decades and won six Super Bowls, Tom Brady’s NFL career seemed all but over after the Patriots parted ways with him in 2020. But as the saying goes, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. At 43, Brady found himself on the sport’s biggest stage for the 10th time. But probably the first time, he was not the obvious favorite to win the championship against a relatively young Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LV. The odds heavily favored the young star, but one man who had experienced a similar moment in his own career knew exactly what Brady was capable of—boxing legend George Foreman.

You see when Foreman [76-5] made his boxing comeback after 10 years of retirement, in 1987, at 38, he was not only doubted but many even called it a media stunt because no one was ready to bet their money on an old man. Well, he went on to win 28 out of his next 30 fights. But it was in 1994, when Foreman, 45, truly cemented his legacy with a career-defining moment by knocking out 26-year-old Michael Moorer in the 10th round to reclaim the heavyweight title. So, when Brady, 43, was out there preparing himself to face the Chiefs and Mahomes, it was Foreman who believed in the Bucs QB. “There’s no reason why he shouldn’t win this thing. No reason why,” Foreman said in 2021.

“You get that chip on your shoulder that no one believes you can do it, especially the people that you really thought would believe in you, you realize they don’t believe in you, and that little extra chip you have on your shoulder… everybody thought that was the end of you, gives you Superman strength,” Foreman added. Proving Foreman right that 40 is not the end for any athlete, Brady went on to add another ring to his collection. So, on March 21, 2025, when Foreman breathed his last at 76, the NFL world stood alongside the boxing community to honor a legend whose influence transcended sports.

Although the cause of death is yet to be revealed, taking to Instagram, Foreman’s family confirmed his passing away, writing, “Our hearts are broken… he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose.” A fighter to the very end.

Now, the NFL stars, past and present, made sure to pay their due respect to such a legend. The Green Bay Packers legend Brett Favre paid tribute, calling him “one of the greatest to ever get in the ring,” while Russell Wilson kept it simple, sharing the news with the words, “Forever Legend.”

Speaking about the fights, and the ring battles, in 1974, he stepped into the ring for the “Rumble in the Jungle” against Muhammad Ali. Younger, stronger, undefeated. Everything pointed to Foreman steamrolling Ali. Instead, he got rope-a-doped, gassed out, and watched Ali steal the show.

Recalling the incident to the NY Post in 2021, Foreman admitted that he had everything in his favor but one thing—mental strength.“I had the strength. I had the power. I had the youth,” Foreman said. “I just didn’t have the thinking power. Put that thinking power together with the same punch and strength — I even gained strength in my latter years, I gained power. And I had the thinking power. It wouldn’t have been a contest.” It was a loss that could’ve defined his career. Instead, it became a chapter in a much bigger story and went on to become the oldest champ ever by knocking out Moore in 1994.

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Okay, surely, he rode into the sunset with that win… Catching fishes. Drinking his favorite beverage. Among his favorite people. But that would have been too cliche for his liking.

He swapped gloves for grills, turning the George Foreman Grill into a $300 million empire. The man who once threw knockout punches was now selling kitchen appliances with the same dominance. He didn’t just win in boxing—he won in life. So, here we are. Sports fans are left with memories. The thunderous knockouts. The toothy grin. And the unmistakable voice calling fights on TV. It will take time to get over this loss.

Not just Brett Favre, but the whole NFL community is paying homage

As news of George Foreman’s passing spread, tributes flooded in from players, reporters, and fans alike. All of us have taken a moment to recognize what he meant, not just to the ring but to life itself.

ESPN’s Mike Green put it simply: “George Foreman was one of the most engaging, endearing, and entertaining figures in sports in my lifetime.” And he wasn’t wrong. Foreman wasn’t just about knockout power—he had personality, charisma, and a comeback story that made even the most dramatic Super Bowl comebacks look tame. The man fought his way back to the top of the heavyweight division at 45. That’s Tom Brady coming back from retirement and winning a Lombardi level of ridicule.

One fan wrote: “Great fighter and a great man.” Hard to argue with that. Foreman’s career was the stuff of legend—an Olympic gold medalist, a two-time heavyweight champion, and a man who reinvented himself more times than an NFL franchise in quarterback purgatory. And through it all, he stayed true to himself. No trash talk, no gimmicks—just Foreman being Foreman.

He even joked about getting beaten by Ali as he told CBN.com, “I tell people, ‘If you’re going to get hit as many times as I’ve been hit by Mohammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Evander Holyfield, you’re not going to remember many names.'” So, you see, he embraced the defeat. No grudges at all.

Meanwhile, another fan dropped this: “Don’t forget the Foreman Grill. I think that was his greatest achievement ever!” Fair take. After all, how many athletes turn their name into a kitchen staple? That grill wasn’t just a side hustle—it was a cultural phenomenon. You didn’t need to know a thing about boxing to know the “Lean Mean Grilling Machine.”

The Ring magazine, often called the Bible of Boxing, summed it up best: “[He] will be remembered as an icon of the sport forever.” And it’s true—Foreman wasn’t just a champion; he was a pioneer. So, it is just good to see the world coming together, respecting a trailblazer of boxing, nonetheless a sporting legend. It’s not a goodbye, but wishing him good luck on his journey in the afterlife. Rip George, you ringmaster… Chef!