“You have to believe in your process…” Right now, the NFL universe is buzzing like a swarm of over-caffeinated fans as we edge closer to Super Bowl LIX. The air is thick with tension, stats, and good ol’ gridiron drama—Tom Brady’s latest broadcast gig has him perched in the analyst’s seat, where his impartiality is as solid as his record. Brady’s no stranger to history, having clocked 89,214 passing yards, 649 TDs, and snagged 7 Super Bowl rings over his 23 seasons. Yet, when it comes to rooting, he’s as neutral as a referee in a raucous playoff brawl. In his own words, “Well, I’m broadcasting the game, so I don’t really have a rooting interest per se…”

Brady’s laid-back delivery on the Old Couple podcast, mixed with his signature candor, has put critics and die-hard fans alike under the microscope. He elaborated, “The only thing I root for in these situations are great games. I will say, if the Chiefs win, I will be very happy for them.” Breaking up that sentiment, he added, “I mean, what they’ve achieved is unmatched.” Just like Marty McFly zipping through time, Brady’s perspective on excellence isn’t about personal allegiance—it’s about witnessing greatness in motion, and hey, isn’t that the whole NFL experience?

Back on the mic, Brady demonstrates his respect for top-tier talent by waxing lyrical about the commitment required to perform at that level. His admiration for the Chiefs’ consistency shines through as he states, “We try to go out there and compete for our job and win.” It’s like a scene if Michael Scott were to drop a truth bomb about excellence in sports: “I am Beyoncé, always.” And while his role as a broadcaster keeps him neutral, his words still carry the gravitas of someone who’s been in the thick of NFL battles.

When it comes to head-to-head clashes, Brady and Patrick Mahomes have danced a six-game tango, with each QB snatching three wins apiece. Take the October 14, 2018 duel, where Brady went 24/35 for 340 yards and 1 TD while Mahomes clocked 23/36 for 352 yards and 4 TDs (plus a couple of INTs to boot). Their postseason meetings tell a different story: Brady’s Patriots and Buccaneers dismantled Mahomes’ Chiefs in both the 2018 AFC Championship and Super Bowl LV. As if echoing a classic “Show me the money!”—the stats speak for themselves, mixing glory and grit in a head-to-head saga.

Fast forward to the 2022 matchup, where Brady lit it up with 39 completions on 52 attempts (385 yards, 3 TDs) against Mahomes’ 23/37 for 249 yards, 3 TDs, and an INT. It’s a tale of regular-season fireworks versus playoff perfection. Brady’s seasoned calm contrasts with Mahomes’ high-octane dynamism—each game a mini-epic. The narrative of wins and losses feels like a marathon where each episode (or game) builds up the legend.

In the trenches of greatness

Beyond the head-to-head, the current landscape of the NFL is painted with the Chiefs’ dazzling season stats: a 15-2 record with Mahomes leading the charge by throwing for 3,928 yds in 16 games, posting a 67.5% comp rate, 26 TDs, and 11 INTs. Mahomes isn’t just a flash in the pan—he’s a postseason dynamo with 5,557 playoff yds, 43 TDs, and a passer rating of 105.8 in 20 playoff contests. Brady, while now steering clear of on-field action, can’t help but tip his hat to such feats. “People always hated on us for so many years,” he recalls, reflecting on his own Patriots days, “and I didn’t understand it because all I did was like, we try to do things the right way.”

Of course, no conversation about greatness would be complete without nodding to the mutual respect that exists between Brady and Mahomes. Mahomes himself has called Brady “the greatest of all time.” When the topic of their Super Bowl clash came up, he quipped, “To me, it’s always going to be tough because Brady beat me in a Super Bowl.” Later, he added with a grin, “To go up against one of the greatest, if not the greatest quarterback of all time in his 150th Super Bowl is gonna be a great experience.” It’s a verbal passing of the torch, much like that iconic moment in The Godfather when the family legacy is both revered and challenged—only here, it’s with footballs and helmets instead of cigars and power.

The saga of these two legends is as much about numbers as it is about narrative. Their meetings—be it a nail-biter regular season game or a postseason showdown—are etched in the annals of NFL lore. Every stat, every drive, and every audacious play builds on the legacy of what football is all about: heart, hustle, and a heck of a lot of drama.

As the Super Bowl approaches, the stage is set for yet another chapter in this epic rivalry. Brady, now a celebrated analyst and part-owner of the Raiders, continues to provide insights as sharp as his passes once were. His commentary is peppered with wit and wisdom, occasionally dropping a truth like, “When quarterbacks become running backs, and they’re out of the pocket, they should lose their protection.”

It’s a reminder that even legends evolve, and while he may no longer be on the field, his voice still resonates across every channel, igniting debates and stirring emotions like a classic primetime TV showdown. So buckle up, ‘cause come to Super Bowl LIX, history’s gonna be written on that field, one epic play at a time. In Brady’s words, “…You have to believe in the things that you are doing to help the team win. I think you have to take the good with the bad.”