The Wrong Message: Why Tom Brady’s Super Bowl Commentary Fell Short
Losing is painful, yes, but it doesn’t have to characterize an athlete’s career, or their self-worth.
“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” — Vince Lombardi
Tom Brady may be the greatest quarterback in NFL history, but his recent Super Bowl game commentary revealed a narrow, win-at-all-costs mentality that does a disservice to the true spirit of sports. Towards the end of the game, in an effort to convey to us mortals what the losing Chiefs players must have been going through, he remarked that losing a Super Bowl is something a player “never, ever forgets.” Ever, apparently; himself included. Given that he has won seven Super Bowl titles—more than any player in history—it’s telling that his focus remains on his three losses rather than the seven triumphs. This perspective, while perhaps understandable for a hyper-competitive athlete, sends the wrong message to fans, especially young ones, about what athletic competition should represent.
Sports, at their best, are about more than just winning. They teach discipline, resilience, teamwork, and the ability to handle both success and failure with grace. A true professional—and one who embodies vulnerability—understands that defeat is not a scar that never fades but a learning experience that shapes character. Instead of lamenting losses forever, an athlete with a healthier perspective would recognize that the real measure of success is not in how many rings they accumulate but in the effort, preparation, and sportsmanship they demonstrate. If Brady’s takeaway from his legendary 23-year career is that his failures loom larger than his triumphs, what message does that send about the purpose of competition?
This mentality is particularly corrosive in an era when professional sports are already hyper-commercialized and grossly overpaid. Every player on the winning Super Bowl team received a $171,000 bonus, while those on the losing side took home $96,000—minor sums in a league where the average player salary exceeds $3 million a year, but still substantial. (I can’t think of many other endeavors in life other than professional sports where losers get consolation checks.) The idea that losing a championship game is an unbearable, life-long burden ignores the reality that these athletes are compensated handsomely for their participation. More importantly, it dismisses the deeper values of sports: perseverance, self-improvement, teamwork, and the ability to move forward, win or lose.
Brady’s words reflect an outdated, rigid view of competition that discourages reflection and growth. If he had embraced vulnerability in his commentary, he might have acknowledged that losing is painful, yes, but it doesn’t have to define an athlete’s career—or their self-worth. I would have loved to have heard Brady speak about the lessons he learned from his defeats, how they motivated him to improve, or how they shaped his leadership. That kind of perspective would have been a far more valuable insight than reinforcing the notion that failure is an eternal wound.
True greatness in sports is not measured by championships alone but by the character one demonstrates along the way. A leader—on the field or in the broadcast booth (especially one being paid $375 million for ten years)—should understand that resilience is not about fixating on past losses but about learning from them and moving forward. If Brady wants to evolve as a commentator, he would do well to remember that vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. And that’s the message fans, young and old, need to hear.