Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback in NFL history but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have flaws.
Brady is widely regarded as a poor sport across the NFL, who at times refuses to shake hands with opposing quarterbacks, particularly after a loss. That’s what Ryan Fitzpatrick, one of Brady’s longtime counterparts under center, said during a recent appearance on ESPN’s “American Caddie.”
Appearing on the show, Fitzpatrick claimed he had to chase down the seven-time Super Bowl champion to secure a handshake following a game:
“Beating Tom Brady … the first time, because after the first time he didn’t shake my hand,” Fitzpatrick said. I was on the Jets (to beat him again, four years later), and I had to chase him down on the 50-yard line … Apparently, he hates losing more than everybody else hates losing. When he does lose, I want a handshake.”
Fitzpatrick’s first alleged handshake snub came while he played for the Bills, who were one of Brady’s chief rivals at the time, seeing as the latter played for the Patriots.
This isn’t the first time Brady has snubbed a quarterback of a postgame handshake.
Nick Foles who upset the Patriots in Super Bowl LII while filling in for an injured Carson Wentz, famously failed to secure a handshake with Brady after his championship performance. Brady later downplayed their missed connection but snubbed Foles a second time in 2020, when Foles’ Bears upset the Buccaneers during the regular season. He also failed to meet with ex-Rams QB Jared Goff after Los Angeles upset Tampa Bay later in the 2020 campaign.
