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NFL Legend Tom Brady Accepts Logan Paul's Challenge After Saquon Barkley Comparison

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ankit K. | Last updated Feb 12, 2026 11:17 AM ET

Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady is not backing down from WWE star and social-media personality Logan Paul.

The two traded shots ahead of the Fanatics Flag Football Classic on March 21 in Saudi Arabia. What began as light promotion turned into a debate about NFL talent and pro wrestling athleticism.

During a recent episode of the "Impaulsive" podcast, Paul claimed his athleticism matches NFL stars like Saquon Barkley. Brady quickly shut that down and called Paul’s WWE career cute, mentioning that pro football operates on another level.

"You’re a good athlete, but honestly, when I’m thinking of Saquon Barkley, and I’m thinking of like …” Brady said, and later continued after Paul's interruption, saying, "It’s cute. It’s a great show. I love WWE. It’s very cute."

Brady later doubled down in an X post, saying, "I hope people understand the level of competition this game is going to be. If you’re on my team you’re going to be locked in, all out, and we’re going to not just win… but dominate. I do think @loganpaul has the right attitude, and the effort will be there. How far that gets him will remain to be seen."

pic.twitter.com/wbvSXuX37P I hope people understand the level of competition this game is going to be. If you’re on my team you’re going to be locked in, all out, and we’re going to not just win... but dominate.

I do think @loganpaul has the right attitude and the effort will be…
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) February 11, 2026

Paul fired back in his own post, writing, “The NFL is cute.” He also shared a video re-creating one of Barkley’s moves, suggesting it is easy to do. Paul compared it to his WWE arsenal, which includes backflips and top-rope maneuvers.

That prompted a surprising response from Brady. Brady posted in his Instagram story, “Fine I'll do a backflip.” The message signaled he accepted the challenge.

Brady made it clear that Paul's wrestling flips do not equal NFL production. He built his legacy through real competition, making it past tough opponents season after season.

Tom Brady waves before the Super Bowl between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots.Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Since retiring in 2023, Brady has stayed busy. He works as Fox Sports’ lead NFL analyst, holds ownership stakes in the Las Vegas Raiders and Aces. Now, he will return to the field in March.

So, all eyes shift to Saudi Arabia, as the game settles it all.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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