Tom Brady used to be known for his antics on the football field.
Things like “Super Bowl champion” preceded him in every introduction. Now the former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback is wearing some other hats during his post-playing days.
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Part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and “NFL on Fox” broadcaster are just two of those hats, which seem to be adding “professional troll” to the closet this offseason. Brady and beef don’t typically go together unless it’s plant-based, but the quarterback is putting that to the side as part of his ongoing battle with influencer and professional wrestler Logan Paul.
OPINION: Tom Brady’s fake beef with Logan Paul is bad look for the GOAT
In one of the more shocking twists for a surefire NFL Hall of Famer, Brady’s brand is undergoing some changes. Gone are the days of Brady’s feuds with Peyton Manning or the New York Jets. Paul is the newest rival that Brady is eyeing and there’s no telling where it goes now.
Here is a look at the timeline of the beef between Brady and Paul.
Tom Brady-Logan Paul beef timeline
Feb. 2026: Brady insults Paul on the “IMPAULSIVE” podcast
The story begins in February when Brady joined the “IMPAULSIVE” podcast and the pair discussed their participation in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic.
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Brady joked about Paul’s athleticism, saying it was “cute” compared to NFL stars. The quarterback said he was worried about the influencer, saying that the NFL participants are on another level athletically.
Paul pointed out his credentials, saying he starred on the football team in high school. The duo eventually turned down the temperature when they believed they were on the same team in the game.
March 2026: Flag football game gets heated
Same team? Yeah, about that.
Brady and Paul weren’t on the same team, but they were on the same page. The beef continued on the field at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, when Brady threw a ball at Paul after the play.
The exchange was far from malicious, appearing to be all in good fun like the rest of this beef.
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However, it also wasn’t unexpected. Brady delivered on a promise he made to Paul during the draft for the flag football game.
“You might wear a helmet − that ball might get loose in my hand and if you’re not paying attention,” Brady told Paul at the draft ahead of the flag football game.
July 17, 2026: A slap in the face
Move over, Will Smith. Brady’s slap wasn’t as passionate, but it didn’t need to be. The quarterback took the stage at Fanatics Fest and took care of business much like his old passing offense – with a quick strike.
Held back by the New York Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns, Brady and Paul later took the fight to social media.
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Brady shared the video of the slap, calling Paul a “dork” after initially labeling the influencer as a “nerd” in his prior post.
July 19, 2026: Birds fly at World Cup Final
Days after the Fanatics fight, Paul found Brady at the World Cup Final, renewing the beef once again. The duo exchanged some pleasantries in the form of middle fingers during the match.
Jake Paul, Logan’s boxing brother, sent a warning to “TB12” in the aftermath of the slap.
“Tom needs to keep his head on a swivel,” he said. “Revenge is sweet.”
This all appears to be part of a larger plan by Brady to dip into the world of WWE. The ongoing beef is a way to concoct a storyline for the former NFL quarterback, who has expressed interest in joining a different world of entertainment.
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“I need to get an invite. I’ve been waiting for [WWE president] Nick Khan to come up with some storyline for me to get in the mix,” Brady said during Fanatics Fest. “I feel like I’m retired from football, and I have an opportunity to go out there and still showcase that I’m a little bit of an athlete.”
Brady and Paul have set the stage. It seems like it’s only a matter of time before they battle in the ring.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tom Brady, Logan Paul feud explained from podcasts to World Cup Final
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