Tom Brady can't stop thinking about Jets even at his own statue unveiling

Rent free...
Tom Brady
Tom Brady | Anadolu/GettyImages

Tom Brady may be the greatest quarterback in NFL history, but he just can’t seem to let the New York Jets go. From the moment he stepped onto the field in a Patriots uniform, Brady made a habit of tormenting Gang Green, and now, even in retirement, he just can't let the rivalry be.

Over the past few months, Brady has managed to continue working the Jets into moments that had nothing to do with them, from a national fan event in June to, most recently, his own statue unveiling in Foxborough this week.

Whether it’s trolling the fan base or taking unprompted swipes at current players, the future Hall of Famer seems determined to keep the Jets in the conversation. And if you ask Jets fans, it’s starting to look like they’re living rent-free in his head.

The latest reminder came during the Patriots’ unveiling of Brady’s towering bronze statue outside Gillette Stadium on Friday.

Tom Brady just won't let the Jets go

On a day meant to celebrate his legendary New England career, Brady found a way to squeeze his longtime rivals into the script. Brady joked that the statue “isn’t just for Pats fans," as it would also give Jets fans “something to throw their beers at as they leave the stadium, probably in the second quarter, maybe the third.”

Yes, it was another classic Brady one-liner, delivered with the same confidence that defined his playing career, and it had the crowd laughing. But it also proved that the Jets remain front of mind, even in moments when they have no business being there.

Of course, this wasn’t an isolated incident. Just this past June, Brady made headlines at Fanatics Fest NYC when he took another unprompted swipe at the Jets.

In the middle of the event, he grabbed a Sauce Gardner jersey from the crowd, spat on it, and stomped it into the ground, all while grinning as if he were playing the heel in a WWE segment.

Gardner responded perfectly on social media, posting the “What you saying f— me for?” GIF from 50 Cent. It was a lighthearted joke, but it also proved once again that Brady can’t resist a little Jets shade.

Brady has earned the right to poke fun, given his 30-7 career record against the Jets, but what makes these moments stand out is the persistence. He’s no longer under center, no longer preparing for December matchups in the Meadowlands, yet the Jets keep finding their way into his spotlight.

Whether it’s pure trolling, a bit of nostalgia, or just Brady knowing how to work a crowd, the result is the same. Brady is doing everything he can to keep this rivalry alive, even in retirement.

So while the Patriots may have built a statue to honor their legendary quarterback, they might have also built a monument to one of football’s most lopsided (and everlasting!) rivalries. And if you ask Jets fans, it’s pretty clear who’s still living rent-free in whose head.

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