Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski Cause Chaos at Fanatics Fest 2025

Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski might be retired from the NFL, but their chemistry—and chaos—are still going strong. The former New England Patriots teammates accidentally broke a Lombardi trophy during a playful stunt at Fanatics Fest 2025 in New York City.

In a video shared on Instagram by Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, Brady is seen tossing the iconic silver football down a hallway to Gronkowski. The setup seemed simple enough—until it wasn’t.

Trophy Toss Gone Wrong

Though Gronk successfully caught the pass, the top football-shaped portion of the trophy detached from its base upon impact. The moment stunned onlookers, who audibly gasped as the piece flew off.

“You broke it!” Brady exclaimed, clearly shocked as he ran toward the damaged trophy to inspect it.

Gronkowski, not one to take the blame lightly, fired back: “I didn’t break it! You threw it way too hard!”

The two continued the banter before Brady delivered a final playful jab: “You’re washed up.”

Despite the mishap, the mood remained light, with the crowd—lined with press and fans—laughing along as the moment quickly went viral.

Sports Stars and Celebs Pack Fanatics Fest

The event was packed with current and former pro athletes, including Dwyane Wade, Eli Manning, and Michael Strahan. It wasn’t just sports royalty in attendance—celebrities like Jay Z, Travis Scott, Emma Roberts, and DJ Khaled also made appearances at the highly anticipated collectibles and memorabilia convention.

Fanatics Fest continues through the weekend, with even more events, appearances, and interactive fan experiences expected on Day 2. As for the trophies? Event organizers may want to keep them on lockdown for the rest of the weekend.

Brady and Gronkowski’s playful energy is nothing new—it’s been a staple of their dynamic both on and off the field. The longtime teammates won multiple Super Bowls together with the New England Patriots and later reunited on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for one final championship run. Off the field, their bromance has taken center stage in commercials, social media antics, and even the Comedy Central Roast of Tom Brady, where Gronkowski didn’t hold back.

This also isn’t the first time Brady has drawn attention for tossing a Lombardi. In February 2021, during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Super Bowl boat parade, he famously hurled the trophy from one boat to another—successfully.

But even seven-time Super Bowl champions have their off days. While the Fanatics Fest stunt didn’t go as planned, the moment served as a reminder of Brady and Gronkowski’s enduring popularity—and their ability to keep fans entertained long after retiring from the game.