On Thursday, Tom Brady found himself embracing a peculiar Thanksgiving tradition, as he took a big, hearty bite out of a turducken leg on live television—a moment that left many fans thoroughly amused. The broadcast captured Brady, smiling as he dug into the unusual dish, but fans were quick to suggest that the encounter was as awkward as the food itself.
Brady was part of the broadcast team for the New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving game, held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The FOX crew, honoring the legacy of legendary sportscaster John Madden, presented a roasted turducken during a break in the action.
Brady, alongside his broadcasting partner Kevin Burkhardt, participated in the beloved Thanksgiving tradition by splitting the turducken legs and taking a bite—all in tribute to Madden’s annual on-air feasts that once brought smiles to millions of viewers.
“That’s good!” Brady said with a grin after sinking his teeth into the roasted bird, seemingly enjoying the festive moment. NFL’s official social media shared the clip, captioning it: “Tom Brady enjoys his first Turducken ? #MaddenThanksgiving.”
But the seemingly cheerful bite led to a flurry of reactions on social media, with many fans questioning just how much Brady actually enjoyed the experience. Despite his on-screen enthusiasm, a number of viewers speculated that the legendary quarterback might have spat out the meat as soon as the cameras panned away from him.
“Brady 100% spit this out as soon as the camera cut away,” one fan humorously posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), echoing what many others were thinking. Another fan joked, “How quickly did Brady spit out that turducken once the camera moved off of him?” Others couldn’t resist bringing up Brady’s well-known dietary preferences, with one user writing, “Brady going to spit that out and eat his avocado ice cream.”
The reactions kept rolling in, and it seemed that fans everywhere were in on the same joke: that the health-conscious Brady, known for his strict adherence to the “TB12” method, wasn’t actually savoring the indulgent bite.
Throughout his playing days, Brady adhered to one of the most rigorous diets in sports, focused largely on plant-based foods, and shied away from indulgences like sugar, dairy, and processed foods. Even after retiring from the NFL, he’s continued to express his commitment to staying on track with his unique wellness regime.
Given Brady’s devotion to his notoriously clean diet, it was no surprise that fans had a field day with the thought of him stepping outside of his nutritional comfort zone.
Whether Brady truly enjoyed the turducken or simply put on a brave face for the cameras remains uncertain, but the lighthearted moment gave viewers a glimpse of the former quarterback stepping out of his usual routine—and fans couldn’t help but tease the idea that the moment was short-lived and ended with a well-hidden spit-take.
RELATED: FOX Urges Tom Brady to Focus More on Key Aspect of NFL Games
At the very least, FOX spared Brady from trying the infamous Thanksgiving sandwich monstrosity that reportedly gave fellow broadcaster Al Michaels nightmares last year.
For now, fans will have to speculate whether the turducken truly passed the Brady test or if it met an untimely end out of sight of the cameras.
Either way, it’s safe to say that Brady’s dalliance with a Madden Thanksgiving staple gave fans something to laugh about—and maybe even wonder if, deep down, the seven-time Super Bowl champ is just like the rest of us when it comes to over-the-top holiday foods.
