Tom Brady thinks the modern NFL has spiraled into 'a lot of mediocrity'

Former NFL quarterback Tom Brady didn’t have a lot of nice things to say about the league he just retired from in an interview with Stephen A. Smith.

While speaking with Smith on his self-named show, Brady lamented on how he feels the quality of play in the league has dipped over the years compared to where it was when he was playing at his prime with the New England Patriots.

To Brady, NFL play has fallen to a level of “mediocrity” where the coaching isn’t as sharp and the players aren’t as good. Those are some strong words!

“I think there’s a lot of mediocrity in today’s NFL,” Brady shared. “I don’t see the excellence that I saw in the past… I think the coaching isn’t as good as it was. I don’t think the development of young players is as good as it was. The rules have allowed a lot of bad habits to get into the actual performance of the game. So I just think the product, in my opinion, is less than what it’s been.”

He also talked about how he feels player protection isn’t properly coached for the individual sides of the ball that need protecting. It’s a fascinating perspective, if a fairly controversial one, considering who it’s coming from.

“I think there’s a lot of mediocrity in today’s NFL” – @TomBrady pic.twitter.com/xyZ1q3ztUg

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) November 21, 2023

Brady’s commentary will continue to be a lighting rod for conversation because of the impact he had on the game while he was playing.

Now that he’s stepped away from the gridiron and is taking more of a commentative approach to the NFL, it’ll be fascinating to hear him continue to offer his takes, hot or not.

There’s an inescapable framing of “it’s not as good as when I used to do it” that sometimes follows these comments, but Brady’s words are contemplative all the same.