Tom Brady spent part of Super Bowl weekend reflecting on longtime friendships and the return of his former franchise to the NFL’s biggest stage.
The retired quarterback spoke with PEOPLE on the blue carpet at EA Sports Presents Madden Bowl on February 6, at the Chase Center in the Bay Area, ahead of the 2026 Super Bowl.
During the appearance, Brady discussed the group accompanying him for the weekend and shared his reaction to the New England Patriots reaching the championship game. “Oh, I got all my friends!” Brady tells PEOPLE before heading into the buzzy event.
He added, “They’re all down here. We got Julian (Edelman) with me right here. He’s usually pretty fun to hang out with,” he jokes, referring to the former Patriots wide receiver with whom he won Super Bowls in 2014, 2016, and 2018.
Retired Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, another longtime teammate and close friend, is also in attendance. Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, emphasized the bond among the group as they reunited during the league’s marquee weekend. “Yeah, we always have a great time. These are my brothers,” he says.
Brady’s appearance came as the Patriots prepared to face the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 8. When asked about seeing his former franchise return to the title game, he also noted the personal significance of the setting. “It’s nice to be in the Bay Area. It’s my hometown, so a lot of cool things came together,” he says.
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The Madden Bowl red carpet attracted a wide mix of stars from across sports and entertainment, including Saquon Barkley, Alix Earle, Zach Bryan, Teyana Taylor, Ciara, Russell Wilson, and New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart.
The night capped off with live performances from Teddy Swims and headliner Zach Bryan, with additional sets from Stephen Wilson Jr., Gavin Adcock, and LaRussell.
Bryan was also joined onstage by San Francisco 49ers standout Christian McCaffrey, who played keys during the performance after Luke Combs withdrew from the event as he and his wife await the birth of their child.
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Tom Brady’s public remarks during Super Bowl week came amid criticism from some New England fans and former teammates, including Vince Wilfork and Asante Samuel, after he said he did not “have a dog in the fight” for this year’s championship matchup involving the Patriots.
Away from the field, the retired quarterback has also found himself in the spotlight over his personal life. Romance speculation surfaced a little more than a month earlier in St. Barths, where Brady was seen with Alix Earle. The 25-year-old later arrived at the Madden Bowl red carpet roughly 45 minutes after Brady, though it remained unclear whether the two crossed paths inside the event.
On New Year’s Day, Brady shared a message to his Instagram Stories that some interpreted as a subtle reflection on the moment. “People are not beautiful for how they look or speak. They’re beautiful for how they love, care, and treat others,” the post read.
About a week after the pair were first spotted together, Brady addressed his schedule and priorities in a separate conversation with PEOPLE. “You know what? I don’t have much time for a personal life or much time for myself, but I love working, and I love my kids,” he said at the time.
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The 2026 Super Bowl between the Patriots and Seahawks was set for Sunday, February 8, marking another championship appearance for the franchise where Brady built much of his record-setting career.
