November 2025

When the “America’s Game of the Week” between the Rams and 49ers was about to kick off on FOX, the broadcast booth suddenly buzzed unusually. Just minutes earlier, the New England Patriots had defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 28–23 in a nail-biting battle. And right in the moments waiting to go on air, Kevin Burkhardt revealed the thing that surprised the whole crew: the mood of Tom Brady – the man sitting right next to him in the booth.

“I’ve been working with Tom for many weeks, but today is the first time I’ve seen him excited like that,” Kevin shared. “As soon as the Patriots finished the game, Tom jumped up, threw his hands in celebration, and laughed loudly. He was glowing – full of energy, completely different from his usual calm demeanor.”

It was not hard to understand why Brady was so emotional. The team he had been attached to for two decades, winning six Super Bowl titles, had just beaten the very team where he ended his career – the Buccaneers. For Brady, it was not just a win for New England, but also an affirmation that the legacy he once built was still alive with the new generation led by Drake Maye.

After calming down, Brady shared his true feelings right before the kickoff of the 49ers vs Rams game. “I’m happy to see the Patriots fighting with heart – the way we used to,” Brady said. “Drake Maye has the grit and the poise that you can’t teach. The Patriots are coming back, and that makes me prouder than ever.”

That small moment quickly spread throughout the NFL. Patriots fans called it “The Brady Smile” – the rare smile of the legend when he saw his old empire revived. Even though he now sits behind the microphone instead of under the stadium lights, Tom Brady still showed that the fire inside him has never gone out – because New England will forever be where his heart belongs.