Tom Brady: Deflategate 2015 and the Colts’ century-long torment – ‘Forgive him? Never.’
Tom Brady, the legendary former quarterback of the New England Patriots, recently took part in the “Fastest Seat in Sports” experience ahead of the 2025 Indianapolis 500. However, his appearance in Indianapolis on Sunday afternoon made it clear that the city hasn’t entirely forgotten the intense rivalries of his playing days, as he was met with a chorus of boos during the driver introductions.
Now serving as an analyst for Fox Sports, Brady was introduced alongside NASCAR icon Jimmie Johnson, who piloted the two-seat IndyCar for the pre-race festivities, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan. Interestingly, despite the presence of these other sporting legends, it was Brady who elicited the loudest reaction from the crowd, even if that reception leaned heavily into the negative. You could definitely hear the sentiment in the broadcast.
While a budding rivalry existed between the Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts before the turn of the millennium, it truly ignited with Brady’s arrival in New England and the Colts’ drafting of quarterback Peyton Manning. With these two iconic signal-callers leading their respective teams, the Patriots and Colts frequently battled for supremacy in the AFC, creating a memorable era of competition.
Between 2001 and 2010, Brady and Manning faced each other 12 times, including three pivotal postseason matchups. Two of those clashes occurred in the AFC Championship Game. New England emerged victorious in 2003, going on to win Super Bowl XXXVIII, while the Colts triumphed in 2006 before claiming victory in Super Bowl XLI. Notably, Brady held an 8-4 head-to-head record against the Manning-led Colts during this period.
The Lingering Shadow of “Deflategate”
Even after Peyton Manning’s departure for the Denver Broncos, Brady’s personal rivalry with the Colts continued. In fact, tensions arguably escalated in 2015 with the “Deflategate” controversy. Reports surfaced in January 2015 alleging that the Patriots intentionally deflated footballs during their 2014 AFC Championship Game win against the Colts. An NFL-commissioned investigation led by attorney Ted Wells concluded that it was “more probable than not” that the Patriots deflated footballs and that Brady was “at least generally aware” of the violations.
The fallout from “Deflategate” saw Brady initially handed a four-game suspension for the 2015 season, although he successfully appealed it, allowing him to play that year and lead the Patriots to a Super Bowl 51 victory. He ultimately served a four-game suspension at the start of the 2016 season.
The Patriots organization was also fined $1 million and forfeited two picks in the 2016 NFL Draft. Interestingly, Brady maintained an undefeated 8-0 record against the Colts after Manning joined the Broncos, perhaps further fueling the lingering animosity felt by some Indianapolis fans.
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