In the glitzy realm of the NFL, where legends like Tom Brady shine brighter than the stadium floodlights, few rivalries boil down to sheer, unapologetic grit. One of these is the lesser-known but deeply personal conflict between Ryan Fitzpatrick, the journeyman quarterback, and Brady, the league’s golden boy. While most rivalries are built on game stats, this one had more to do with respect, or the lack of it.
The story begins in 2011, back when Fitzpatrick was playing for the Buffalo Bills. That year, the Bills pulled off a stunning upset against Brady’s New England Patriots, clawing their way back from a 21-0 deficit to win 34-31.
It was a career-defining victory for Fitzpatrick. Brady, however, was in no mood for pleasantries. Eschewing the customary midfield handshake, he walked off the field without even a nod of acknowledgment. For Fitzpatrick, that snub cut deeper than any blitz he had ever faced.
Years later, during a 2022 appearance on the podcast Pardon My Take, Fitzpatrick recounted that moment with raw honesty. “He just pisses me off,” he said. “We finally knocked him off, and he just ran straight off. No handshake, no nothing. It just bothered me so much because there was no respect.”
Listen to Ryan Fitzpatrick talk about why he doesn’t like Tom Brady. pic.twitter.com/all1PHwB8V
? Jarrett Bailey (@JBaileyNFL) October 19, 2022
At the end he got his respect… sort of
For a quarterback like Fitzpatrick, who built his career as a scrappy underdog bouncing between teams, the lack of acknowledgment wasn’t just an insult. It became fuel for every future matchup he had against Brady. Each game carried an unspoken mission: earn the respect of the NFL’s most celebrated quarterback.
Fast-forward to 2019, when Fitzpatrick, now with the Miami Dolphins, found his ultimate vindication. In a year when Miami was widely written off as the worst team in the league, Fitzpatrick pulled off another upset. In the season’s final game, he led the Dolphins to a shocking 27-24 victory over the Patriots, robbing them of home-field playoff advantage. It was a David-versus-Goliath moment, but for Fitzpatrick, the scoreboard was secondary. The real win came after the game, when Brady finally extended a handshake, an understated gesture but one heavy with meaning.
Reflecting on that handshake, Fitzpatrick later admitted, “Yeah, I think,” when asked if Brady finally acknowledged him. The brevity of the response underscored the journey. For Fitzpatrick, it wasn’t about dramatic reconciliations; it was about standing his ground, earning his place, and getting recognition, on his terms.
In hindsight, the Fitzpatrick-Brady rivalry is more than just an NFL subplot. It’s a testament to perseverance, to the fight for respect against the odds. For every unsung player who’s ever been overlooked, Ryan Fitzpatrick’s story is a reminder: sometimes, respect isn’t given, it’s earned, one hard-fought game at a time.
Tom Brady and Ryan Fitzpatrick: not friends@rhoback
? Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) September 14, 2022
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