Tom Brady Opens Up About Nick Foles Rivalry During NFC Championship Broadcast

2025-01-28

Tom Brady addressed his infamous post-Super Bowl LII snub of Nick Foles during the NFC Championship broadcast on Sunday, clarifying that his actions were rooted in jealousy rather than animosity. Foles, who famously led the Philadelphia Eagles to a 41-33 victory over Brady’s New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII, was shown on camera during the Eagles’ NFC Championship game against the Washington Commanders. This prompted Brady, now a Fox Sports analyst, to address the long-standing speculation about his relationship with Foles.

“Nick, I don’t hate you. I’m just jealous of you,” Brady said during the broadcast, referencing Foles’ Super Bowl MVP performance. The comment was made after play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt playfully ribbed Brady about Foles’ presence. Brady’s jealousy likely stems from Foles’ pivotal role in preventing Brady from securing back-to-back Super Bowl titles, a feat that would have been part of a historic three-peat for the Patriots.

The rivalry between the two quarterbacks began after Brady famously left the field without shaking Foles’ hand following Super Bowl LII. The tension resurfaced in 2020 when Foles, then with the Chicago Bears, defeated Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Brady again did not shake his hand. Despite the snubs, Brady has expressed admiration for Foles, calling him a “hell of a player” and a “Super Bowl champ.”

Foles, who retired before the 2025 season, was in attendance to support the Eagles during their NFC Championship victory. His legacy as the quarterback who delivered Philadelphia its first Super Bowl title remains a sore spot for Brady, who has only lost three of his 10 Super Bowl appearances—one to Foles and two to Eli Manning. While Brady has engaged in playful banter with Manning over the years, his relationship with Foles has been more subdued, with Sunday’s broadcast marking a rare public acknowledgment of their history.

As the Eagles prepare to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 2025, Brady and Foles may cross paths again, with Brady expected to be in the broadcast booth for the big game.