Kirby Lee, Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Patriots React to Tom Brady Decision Amid NFL Playoffs

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Parker Johnson | Last updated Jan 21, 2026 5:13 PM ET

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has a chance to continue his outstanding second NFL season when he leads the Patriots on the road against the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday. It is New England's first trip to the conference championship since Tom Brady inspired a run to his sixth Super Bowl title during the 2018 playoffs.

Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, emerged as an MVP candidate this year as the Patriots went 14-3 in the regular season and claimed the AFC East crown. He threw for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions while leading the league with a 72 percent completion percentage.

FOX broadcaster and former NFL quarterback Tom Brady.Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Ahead of conference championship weekend, Brady looked back at some of the best throws from the 2025 NFL season for a video on his YouTube channel. The former Patriots QB decided that Maye made the cut with his 30-yard sideline completion to Stefon Diggs in a Week 5 win against the Buffalo Bills.

"You don't practice these much, that's the hard part about these scrambles," Brady explained. "It takes a lot of great decision-making from the quarterback outside the pocket because things are moving really fast. Because they're unstructured, a lot of times you only get one look at it."

We could listen to @TomBrady break down @DrakeMaye2 throws all day pic.twitter.com/nXbVwyHU0y
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 21, 2026

"We could listen to @TomBrady break down @DrakeMaye2 throws all day," the Patriots said in a social media post, highlighting Brady's breakdown.

When asked if he would be making the same kinds of throws in an upcoming flag football event in Saudi Arabia, the 48-year-old Brady responded, "Uh, no."

After Maye and the Patriots face the Broncos at 3 p.m. ET on CBS, Brady will be on the FOX broadcast to call the NFC Championship Game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.

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

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