Tom Brady made headlines during the 2021 Super Bowl boat parade by tossing the Lombardi Trophy from one boat to another. His 8-year-old daughter, Vivian, advised against it, but the pass was successfully caught by tight end Cameron Brate. This moment highlighted Brady’s fun-loving attitude and solidified his status as a football legend.
Ah, Tom Brady—the man, the myth, the meme! Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just love a good viral moment, the 2021 Super Bowl boat parade is probably etched in your memory. Let’s rewind to when Brady’s celebratory toss of the Lombardi Trophy became the talk of the town (and Twitter).
The Legendary Toss That Shocked the World
Brady had just enjoyed his seventh Super Bowl victory—yes, SEVENTH—and life was looking good. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had dominated the 2020 season, and what better way to top it off than with a $2 million boat parade along the Hillsborough River?
As champagne flowed and the vibes were electric, Brady did something only he could make iconic: he casually yeeted the Lombardi Trophy from one boat to another. To everyone watching, it was a mix of awe and sheer panic. What if it landed in the river? Brady, though, wasn’t too worried. On The Late Late Show with James Corden, he hilariously admitted:
“First of all, I wasn’t thinking at that moment. It wasn’t a thought. It was, ‘This seems really fun to do.'”
Vivian Brady: The Voice of Reason
While the crowd was cheering, one voice of caution stood out: Brady’s then-8-year-old daughter, Vivian. In true “kids say the darndest things” fashion, she shouted:
“Daddy, no!”
Looking back on the moment, Brady couldn’t help but laugh at his daughter’s wisdom, saying:
“Who could imagine that an 8-year-old girl would have the most sense of anybody in that whole area? I mean, she’s the voice of reason. Go figure.”
A High-Stakes Catch by Cameron Brate
Tight end Cameron Brate bailed out Brady a bit with his high-stakes catch, but in more ways than one-the toss looked effortless (shaky legs and all thanks to a little celebratory avocado tequila) Brate, still riding the parade buzz himself, admitted he thought Brady was joking at first. But once the trophy was mid-air, there was no turning back. Thankfully, Brate had faith in the GOAT’s precision: “Not to mention, when you get your hands on one of those trophies, there’s a lot of really sharp edges on the bottom. … I found out later that had that been an incomplete pass, that would have went down like 80 feet. I’m so happy that [tight end] Cam [Brate caught it].” Brady even joked about the sharp edges of the trophy, acknowledging just how close they were to a very expensive splash.
Tom Brady: The GOAT of Memes
While the incident left some fans clutching their pearls, it solidified Brady’s status as both a football legend and a relatable, fun-loving human. His lighthearted approach to the moment—and his willingness to laugh at himself—made it all the more memorable.