Tom Brady once again distances himself from the Patriots, and the fans aren't forgiving him: "He lied"

T om Brady 's relationship with New England Patriots supporters has become a talking point again, with some fans questioning his connection to the franchise after he was not included in the celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of Super Bowl LI.

The former quarterback is due to return to Gillette Stadium on Sunday, November 8, but his role will be very different from the one that made him a New England legend.

Brady will be working for Fox as a broadcaster during the Patriots ' matchup against the Green Bay Packers , rather than joining his former teammates on the field for their reunion.

The occasion marks a decade since one of the most extraordinary comebacks in Super Bowl history. Brady led New England back from a 28-3 deficit against the Atlanta Falcons in Houston, eventually securing a 34-28 overtime victory and his fifth championship ring.

It remains one of the defining moments of his career, but supporters have noticed that his name is missing from the 26-player alumni group announced for the anniversary festivities.

The list includes several prominent members of that championship roster, among them Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski . Both former Patriots stars also have broadcasting commitments with Fox, but are expected to participate in the celebrations.

That difference has left some supporters wondering why Brady cannot make a brief appearance alongside the players with whom he won the championship.

“ Edelman and Gronk work for FOX, but Brady can’t come down for 5 minutes?” one fan replied, as another wrote: “So Edelman and Gronk who will be doing pre/post game for FOX can come out, but Brady can’t? Noted.”

Others were even more direct in questioning his absence.

“Anyone remember who the QB of that team was? Wonder if they could find him this weekend?”

“I know Brady is in the booth but it would have been nice for him to be apart of this,” wrote one fan as another said: “No reason why TB can’t walk out with the team but ok dude.”

One particularly frustrated supporter suggested the situation reflected a wider distance between Brady and the region that helped make him a sporting icon.

“ Brady really doesn’t claim anything about the region, organization, or fans,” a fan claimed, while another asked: “Brady too good to come down from his high horse for 5 minutes?”

Why Patriots supporters are questioning Brady's relationship with New England

For some fans, the disappointment goes beyond a single anniversary event. They believe Brady has not been as visible around the organisation since ending his playing career, despite previously suggesting that retirement would allow him to spend more time in New England.

One supporter summed up that frustration with a particularly pointed message: “Man I’ll always love Brady but… he really lied when he said ‘fans will see me around a lot more once I’m retired’.”

The criticism is notable given Brady's enormous contribution to the franchise. He spent 20 seasons with the Patriots , winning six Super Bowls and establishing himself as the central figure of the organisation's most successful era.

He eventually left New England after the 2019 season, joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and winning another championship in 2021. His departure marked the end of an extraordinary partnership with head coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft .

Brady has not completely disappeared from Foxborough, however. His statue was unveiled outside Gillette Stadium in August 2025, providing a permanent tribute to his achievements. That appearance was his most recent visit to the stadium before this weekend's broadcasting assignment.

There is also a scheduling complication behind the latest controversy. Brady is Fox's lead NFL analyst and will be working alongside play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt for the Patriots-Packers broadcast. The reunion is therefore taking place during a weekend when he already has professional responsibilities at the venue.

Nevertheless, the presence of Edelman and Gronkowski has made that explanation less convincing to some supporters.

The comparison with former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has also emerged, after Brees stepped out of the Fox broadcast booth during halftime of a Saints game to be recognised during his Ring of Honor induction.

Brady, meanwhile, has spoken positively about returning to the stadium. During an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd , he acknowledged that the occasion would carry considerable emotional significance: “It'll certainly be emotional. Every inch of that stadium I've been through so many times, from the locker rooms to the meeting rooms.

“So many memorable plays in that stadium, big games, championship games, rivalry games, division-clinching games, so to be back there [is special].”

Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel was also asked about the prospect of seeing his former teammate. His response was humorous, although he indicated that he expected to encounter Brady during Gronkowski's Hall of Fame induction on Saturday.

“I think I'm required contractually to catch up with him at some point,” Vrabel said. “I'm sure it'll be a Zoom. I'm sure they won't show up here; I'm sure it will be on Zoom.

“Yep, there you go. So yep, contractually I'll be talking to him, and I'm sure I'll see him at Gronk's [Rob Gronkowski] induction on Saturday.”

Gronkowski's ceremony is scheduled for November 7, with the Patriots also planning to recognize the Super Bowl LI team during Sunday's game.

Ultimately, Brady's return to Foxborough could still receive a warm reception from supporters who remember everything he achieved in a Patriots uniform. But his omission from the anniversary guest list has reopened a debate about how closely he remains connected to the franchise.

For fans who expected to see their former quarterback celebrating alongside his championship teammates, the weekend has already brought an unexpected disappointment.