Tom Brady Reflects on Memorable Thanksgiving Moments with the Patriots
Tom Brady may not have always played on Thanksgiving Day for the New England Patriots, but the memories he created on those occasions are enduring. In his weekly “Story Time With Tom” series on FOX, the iconic quarterback revisits some of his favorite moments from Thanksgiving games. One memory that stands out is a now-famous turkey leg bite following a dominant victory over the New York Jets in 2012.
A Thanksgiving Showdown
The 2012 matchup at MetLife Stadium was a memorable one, as the Patriots, led by Brady’s impressive performance of 323 passing yards and three touchdowns, overwhelmed the Jets with a final score of 49-19. While many fans might recall the game’s lopsided score, it’s the unforgettable moments that have etched themselves into football lore—most notably, the infamous “Butt Fumble.”
After the game, in a light-hearted celebration, Brady and his teammates shared a turkey feast on the field. The image of Brady taking a bite of the turkey leg became a hallmark of that Thanksgiving.
“There was a great clip of me and Vince Wilfork (and Steve Gregory),” Brady reminisced. “They gave me the turkey leg, and when I looked at it, I could feel that it was kind of a cold turkey leg.” He humorously described how he cautiously approached the bite, referring to it as a “chintzy little bite.” In contrast, his enormous teammate, Wilfork, dove into the feast with gusto. “Of course, Vince went all in like it was a chicken wing,” Brady chuckled. “Vince was slipping that thing into his mouth and devouring it. I was a little apprehensive about what I was biting into.”
Brady’s Thanksgiving Football Legacy
The 2012 showdown against the Jets was not Brady’s only appearance on Thanksgiving Day. His very first NFL game occurred on this holiday as well, against the Detroit Lions, where he threw the first passes of his storied career.
On November 23, 2000, the Patriots faced off against the Lions in Detroit. After the Lions jumped to a substantial lead, head coach Bill Belichick called on the rookie quarterback to finish the game. “My first passes were on Thanksgiving in Detroit,” Brady recalled. “It was a different stadium. Three passes that day, (I) wasn’t very productive. A pretty inauspicious start to my career.”
As Brady reflects on these Thanksgiving games, he not only celebrates his personal milestones but also the shared experiences that have come to define the holiday for football fans and players alike. The blend of competitive spirit and festive camaraderie has made Thanksgiving football a cherished tradition, and Brady’s memories continue to resonate with fans across the league.
