Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion widely regarded as the NFL’s greatest of all time, appeared to toss some light-hearted shade at Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow during a celebrity flag football draft event on Wednesday.
The moment came at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic Draft in Los Angeles, hosted by comedian Kevin Hart. As teams were being introduced, Brady — serving as a captain or participant in the event set for Saturday — commented on Burrow’s placement with the Wildcats squad.
“That’s what they called Joe the other night at those Oscars parties .. the Wildcat,” Brady said, according to TMZ, which captured video of the exchange. “At least he’s here, no fashion shows to attend to.”
Burrow, seated nearby, responded with an awkward side-eye before breaking into a smile, as the room reacted to the quip.
The remark referenced Burrow’s recent appearance at post-Oscars parties over the weekend, where he was spotted leaving an event alongside social media influencer Alix Earle, singer Tate McRae and model Stassie Karanikolaou. Photos and reports from the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party showed the group departing together, fueling online speculation about potential romantic ties between Burrow and Earle — though sources have described it as unclear whether anything beyond friendship was involved.
Brady and Earle had previously generated their own tabloid headlines earlier in 2026, with sightings together at events including a private Super Bowl party in February and reports of the pair exchanging phone numbers. More recently, Brady has been linked to Yael Cohen, the ex-wife of music executive Scooter Braun.
While the draft comment carried a competitive edge typical of Brady’s on-field persona, media outlets including TMZ suggested it hinted at possible jealousy or lingering feelings, with phrasing like “ya gotta wonder if there was some real shade being thrown” and observations that “it feels like Brady feels some type of way.”
Brady has kept busy in retirement through ventures like broadcasting, business interests and occasional celebrity events such as this flag football showcase. Burrow, meanwhile, continues to lead the Bengals as one of the league’s top young quarterbacks.
The flag football game is scheduled for Saturday, March 21, 2026, in what promises to be a high-profile exhibition with added personal subplots. Neither Brady nor Burrow has publicly commented further on the exchange or the party sightings.
For now, the NFL offseason has delivered another round of off-field drama, proving that even legends like Brady aren’t above a little trash talk, especially when it involves quarterbacks, parties, and high-profile names.
Flip the pages for photos of Alix Earle.
