NFL legend Tom Brady is stepping into the quarterback safety debate, offering his perspective on Azeez Al-Shaair’s controversial hit that sidelined Jacksonville Jaguars Quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Appearing on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Brady called for quarterbacks to take greater responsibility for their safety while acknowledging the inherently aggressive nature of defensive play.
“Nobody wants to see anybody get hurt, but it is also the reality of a very physical sport that we play,” Brady said.
“But, the only way, defensive players have to be aggressive; that’s their nature. I was trying to be aggressive on offense. … The quarterbacks need to take better care of themselves.”
The comments followed the ugly incident during Sunday’s Texans-Jaguars game where Al-Shaair delivered a dirty hit that not only knocked Lawrence out of the game – but most likely ended his season.
As a repeat offender, including an incident where he choked Brady, Al-Shaair was handed down a three-game suspension.
Meanwhile, Brady, renowned for his longevity and pocket awareness during his 23-year career, highlighted the challenges faced by mobile quarterbacks.
While their dynamic playstyle electrifies the game, he argued it also exposes them to greater risk.
“I’ve seen Josh Allen running a lot. I see Lamar Jackson run a lot, and it’s a great skill set to have; a lot of times, I wish I had that skill set. And at the same time, when you run, you put yourself in a lot of danger,” he explained.
Brady’s perspective underscores a shift in the NFL, where dual-threat quarterbacks are becoming more the norm. Yet, he questioned whether the league’s rules, which heavily penalize defenders for quarterback hits, strike the right balance.
“Maybe they fine or penalize a quarterback for sliding late. If we don’t want these hits to take place, we’ve got to penalize the offense and the defense rather than just penalize the defensive player for every single play that happens when there’s a hit on a quarterback,” he said.
Brady’s insights come with weight. His mastery of pocket protection and quick decision-making allowed him to minimize hits over two decades, winning seven Super Bowl titles in the process.
For him, quarterbacks bear as much responsibility as defenders when it comes to avoiding dangerous collisions.
The conversation reflects a broader tension in today’s NFL. As rules evolve to safeguard quarterbacks, defenses must adapt, sometimes at the expense of their aggressive edge.
Predictably, some fans were quick to call Brady a phony since very few quarterbacks in NFL history complained more to referees about aggressive defenders than TB12 himself.
Brady has also faced a wave of criticism when it comes to his new broadcasting career.
In fairness, Brady’s always going to have critics because, well, he’s Tom Brady. That just comes with the territory.
Having said that, most fans agree that he has much to improve on when it comes to his analyst work.
FOX Sports signed him to a historic 10-year, $375 million deal. By all accounts, he’s been putting in the work and is taking his responsibilities very seriously.
However, despite being the biggest star in the history of the sport, some feel he doesn’t have the necessary personality to be an elite broadcaster. (The restrictions he faces for being an NFL owner certainly don’t help matters either.)
What are your thoughts on the Brady criticism???
