“You Gotta Root for Him”: Michael Phelps Came to Tom Brady’s Aid in 2017 Amidst NFL Legend’s On-Field Struggles as Both Men Struggle With Personal Losses Five Years Later

Michael Phelps rooted for Tom Brady

Michael Phelps is a legend in his own right. The champion swimmer holds the all-time record for 23 Olympic gold medals. And as Tom Brady struggles this season on both professional and personal front, Phelps’ words from five years ago are something he will take heart from.

The New England Patriots led by Brady were looking for a fifth Super Bowl title in 2017. They were up against the Atlanta Falcons. Days before the game, Phelps was asked who he was rooting for in the finale. The answer was, of course, Tom Brady.

“As an athlete you root to watch athletes do great and remarkable and impressive things that have never been done before. So you look at Tom having a chance to win his fifth, you gotta root for him,” Phelps said at the time.

Brady repaid the faith put in him. The Patriots were down 3-28 in the third quarter, and Brady led an unprecedented comeback to force the game into extra time. The game finished 34-28 and Brady had won his fifth Super Bowl.

Brady’s struggles this season

Tom Brady is struggling this season. And the struggles are both on and off the field. On the field, his Tampa Bay Buccaneers succumbed to a third straight defeat, this time against the Baltimore Ravens. The Bucs are 3-5 after eight game weeks.

Read More: “Tom Is Not the Problem”: Even After Historic Loss to Baltimore Ravens, Fans Refuse to Put the Blame on Tom Brady

Off the field, Brady is going through a divorce with his wife Gisele Bündchen. Brady confirmed his divorce after weeks of speculation on the matter. The couple is indeed in the end zone.

Bündchen is reportedly unhappy with the amount of time Brady is able to give to his family due to his career commitments. He had retired at the end of last season but came back out of it in just 40 days. His decision to continue playing even at the age of 45 didn’t go down well with Bündchen.

Brady will surely be raring to make a comeback against the Los Angeles Rams. What better stage for Brady, to once again show the world what he is made of, than against the reigning Super Bowl champions?

Watch This Story: Tom Brady once refused to call himself the Goat but why