Tom Brady jokes about defusing NFL players' anger toward Logan Paul ahead of Fanatics Flag Football Classic

Retired NFL quarterback Tom Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers,[1][2] appeared on NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on Tuesday to preview the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, scheduled for Saturday at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. The multi-purpose venue, home to Major League Soccer's Los Angeles FC since 2022, has a seating capacity of 22,000.[3][4]

Brady addressed recent online barbs between NFL players and Logan Paul, an American YouTuber, professional wrestler signed to WWE since 2022, and amateur boxer.[5][6] Paul is set to participate in the exhibition flag football game alongside streamer iShowSpeed and four-division boxing world champion Terence "Bud" Crawford.[5] Former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski, Brady's longtime teammate on five Super Bowl-winning teams, is also expected to play.[1][2]

The exchange began during Super Bowl week at radio row, ahead of Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on February 8, 2026.[7][8] Brady told Paul the NFL participants were "at another level," adding, "You're a good athlete," during their conversation about the event.

Paul responded with a social media video highlighting his leaping ability. Brady later joked while working out with Gronkowski, calling Paul a "b---h." Paul escalated by challenging any NFL player to a boxing match with $1 million on the line; former NFL running back Le'Veon Bell expressed interest, though no bout materialized.

On Fallon, Brady smiled as he recounted NFL players approaching him angrily: "Logan Paul ... literally called out these NFL players and I had all these guys come to me, 'I'm gonna f--,' and I'm like, 'Guys, chill out. We’re not committing any crimes against Logan Paul.'"

Paul commented on potential on-field contact with Brady: "I wouldn’t be surprised if I throw hands with Tom Brady on the field."

Sources

  1. NFL.com, "Tom Brady," accessed October 2024, https://www.nfl.com/players/tom-brady/
  2. Wikipedia, "Tom Brady," accessed October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Brady
  3. Los Angeles FC official site, "BMO Stadium," accessed October 2024, https://www.lafc.com/bmostadium
  4. Wikipedia, "BMO Stadium," accessed October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMO_Stadium
  5. Wikipedia, "Logan Paul," accessed October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logan_Paul
  6. WWE.com, "Logan Paul," accessed October 2024, https://www.wwe.com/superstars/logan-paul
  7. NFL.com, "Super Bowl 60 set for Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8, 2026," February 2023, https://www.nfl.com/news/super-bowl-60-set-for-levi-s-stadium-on-feb-8-2026
  8. Levi's Stadium site, "Super Bowl LX," accessed October 2024, https://www.levisstadium.com/events/detail/super-bowl