'Like a Friggin' AI Machine': Tom Brady Interrupting Gronk's Hall of Fame Induction to Correct Him on a Play from 16 Years Ago is Peak GOATness
Despite any concerns about whether or not Tom Brady would be in attendance at Rob Gronkowski's induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame, the day began as it should have. It ended in the only way it possibly could have:
And in between, it was perfection. 10/10, no notes. Gronk admitting for the first time that when he famously fell asleep before his first pre-draft meeting in Foxboro, he was hung over. Matt Light telling the story of watching Rookie Gronk launch a Detroit Lions DE across the field and take out the entire defensive line. Gronk saying he was jawing with the guy all game and was so excited when the play called for a crack block that he was physically shaking in the huddle. Just dozens of stories like that from the best 11 years of tight end play the world has ever seen.
But this was the moment when the day became transcendent. Gronk talking about a specific play that was called for him in his rookie season (cued up to the 27:30 mark):
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The route was called "Panther." Described by coordinator Bill O'Brien as "Get fucking big in the end zone." The Pats were playing the Bears in Chicago in the snow, and got the ball into the red zone. Brian Uhrlacher was in coverage on him.
"We were destroying the Bears in Chicago at the moment as well," he says.
Brady interjects. "First drive."
"Oh, first drive, it was?" Gronk responds. "See? This guy's got a memory like a frigging AI machine. That's why he's the greatest."
That's certainly one of the reasons.
Not to be That Guy:
Giphy Images.… because the fact that Brady remembers this particular play is what matters, not the specific details. But a quick check reveals it was the Patriots second possession. They went 3 & out to open the game. But it was, in fact, a 0-0 game in the 1st quarter when he and his new tight end connected on Panther on the way to destroying the Bears in Chicago as Gronk described. So for all intents and purposes, he was correct.
What's so impressive about Brady's didactic memory on this is that he threw 737 touchdowns, regular season and post. To 98 different receivers. And 115 to Gronk alone. By the time he threw this one, he'd been a starter for 10 years. Had played in four Super Bowls, winning three. And had the greatest season any QB had ever had just a few years earlier, with a record 50 TDs. And yet he remembers this one with a photographic memory more accurate than the guy who caught it. And who has repeatedly called that catch a turning point in his Hall of Fame career. The one that made him realize just how good he could be. And taught him the lesson that putting in the extra work pays off.
There will never be another duo like these two. Be grateful the universe brought them together, and you got to see them. Now here, enjoy 10 minutes of their collaboration: