When legendary quarterback Tom Brady agreed to be the subject of a Netflix roast, everyone knew the night would be filled with hilarious jabs. With a long history alongside his former teammates, there was no shortage of potential material for the grand stage of The Greatest Roast of All Time.

Drew Bledsoe, the former quarterback Brady famously replaced after an injury, headlined the celebrity lineup at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. Bledsoe’s unexpected exit from the Patriots paved the way for Brady’s legendary rise, forever changing NFL history. Thus fans were eager to see Bledsoe return the favor, and he certainly delivered. He kicked off his roast with a playful banter, but ended his set on a heartfelt note, though not without a final humorous plea for Brady.

Drew Bledsoe steals the show at Brady’s roast

Drew Bledsoe arrived at The Netflix is a Joke Fest’s The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady armed with hilarious jabs. He poked fun at everything from Brady’s broken marriage to his less-than-stellar draft position. Bledsoe kicked off his set by reflecting on how he lost his starting quarterback position to Brady by sarcastically stating, “Look, Tom, I’m really glad that you enjoyed all this amazing success with the team that I built.”

But the roast took a heartwarming turn as Bledsoe expressed genuine pride in Brady’s accomplishments, saying, “I’m Incredibly proud of all that you accomplished. But I’m far more proud of how you’ve done it. You’ve always been a man of true character, and I know you’re going to continue to do great things.” Then, with a playful grin, he added, “Now will you please stay f**king retired? We are sick of this shit.” Even though it was a funny plea, Bledsoe’s injury changed the Patriots forever.

The injury that launched Tom Brady’s career

In a brutal fourth-quarter hit from the New York Jets’ Mo Lewis, New England Patriots star quarterback Drew Bledsoe suffered near-fatal injuries in 2001. A concussion, collapsed lung, and internal bleeding threatened his life. Soon, in a move that would change NFL history, head coach Bill Belichick turned to the backup, Tom Brady, who went on to become the primary starter for the next 21 seasons. Even after Bledsoe recovered, Belichick kept Brady under center. This bold decision to bench Bledsoe ultimately led to the Patriots winning their first Super Bowl in 2002, with five more titles following.

In a hilarious twist during Brady’s roast, Belichick recreated that iconic moment by benching Bledsoe and tapping Brady for the Netflix roast spotlight. Finally, Bledsoe got his chance to fire back with incredible zingers, making the most of his moment on stage.