Tom Brady is throwing a flag on the current crop of NFL athletes.
The seven-time Super Bowl champ shared his views on the state of quarterbacks today and how their experience is different from when he played between 2000 and 2023.
“Everyone is coddled a little bit more,” Tom said in E! News’ exclusive preview clip of Kevin Hart’s series Cold as Balls, airing on YouTube Sept. 9. “Whereas opposed to saying, ‘Hey, you better come in and get the work done,’ it’s kind of like, ‘Hey, you probably should do this.’”
He added, “The guys that are really gonna have the great work ethic, they’re gonna really be able to succeed.”
Tom—who is dad to son Jack, 17, with ex Bridget Moynahan, as well as kids Benjamin, 15, and Vivian, 12, with ex Gisele Bündchen—also recognized there are “a lot more distractions” facing athletes on their road to success.
“There’s more challenges for the [new] generation of quarterbacks,” he continued, “but for the guys that take advantage of it, it’s more opportunities for them too.”
As for who Tom believes has the greatest chance of leaving their own legacy in the history books? His money is on Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“He has a will to win,” the sports commentator explained. “He’s got a desire every time he takes the field to be a great leader. Everything he says is the right thing.”
Meanwhile, Patrick has attributed some of his success to the advice he has received from Tom over the years.
“He always talks about being yourself,” the 29-year-old said on a July episode of the Up & Adams Show. “He thinks that—and I truly believe it too—guys can spot when you are not authentic and not putting in the work. That is something he did every single day. That is why guys respected him so much.”
And going forward, Patrick plans to live out Tom’s words on authenticity.
“That’s all I am going to do for the rest of my career and I felt like I have done so far,” he continued. “I am always myself no matter if you like me or don’t like me, you know. I am giving everything I can to win the football games.”
Catch more nuggets of wisdom from Tom when Cold as Balls returns on YouTube Sept. 9.
In the meantime, read on for a closer peek at Tom’s life outside of the NFL.
Sept. 10, 2023
The athlete appears with his kids Jack, Ben and Vivian as he is honored by the New England Patriots at halftime during their home opener at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
August 2, 2023
The five-time Super Bowl MVP takes a walk on the wild side, posting pics from his safari adventure.
July 23, 2023
Following Brady’s divorce from Gisele Bündchen, the former quarterback was spotted with supermodel Irina Shayk.
July 4, 2023
The Super Bowl MVP joins a host of other A-listers at Michael Rubin‘s annual Hamptons white party.
June 11, 2023
Brady got VIP seating next to Novak Djokovic‘s wife as he watched the tennis champ compete at the French Open in Paris.
June 5, 2023
The former New England Patriots QB spent a day at Disneyland with his kids Benjamin and Vivian.
May 22, 2023
Perhaps missing the spotlight, Brady appeared on the “Hertz Let’s Go Show”, a fictional daytime talk show which was part of a series of digital ads.
Apr. 22, 2023
The seven-time Super Bowl champion visits UCLA to cheer on his niece Maya during her softball game.
Apr. 20, 2023
Brady speaks about his entrepreneurial experiences at the eMerge Americas conference in Miami.
Mar. 28, 2023
The retired football star enjoyed a beach day with his kids and some of his former teammates.
Mar. 23, 2023
Brady jumped back into the world of sports by acquiring an ownership interest in the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.
Feb. 20, 2023
While on a ski vacation with his kids, the athlete posted a photo of himself and his son Jack twinning in all-black.
Feb. 6, 2023
Just a few days later, Brady kicked off his retirement with an underwear thirst trap.
Feb. 1, 2023
Quarterback Tom Brady announced his retirement from the NFL by posting an emotional video on social media.
