Grateful ex-teammates of Tom Brady in New England now rooting for Bucs QB in Super Bowl 55

Once you’ve shared a huddle, locker room or practice field with Tom Brady, you become a fan for life. It becomes almost impossible to root against the future Hall of Fame quarterback once he wins you a ring — or three.

After 20 years in New England, Brady left the nest and found additional success with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. For Patriots past and present, it’s been an enjoyable experience seeing Brady, 43, play this postseason and head to his 10th Super Bowl. For those who played with him, they’ll never forget about the man they call the GOAT.

As Brady prepares to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55, one thing is certain — his former teammates are behind him.

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“I’m happy for him,” Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore said on ESPN. “That’s what he plays for. He plays for rings. He doesn’t play for nothing else. That’s what he does. He don’t play for Pro Bowls. What drives him is Super Bowls. I’m happy for him. I’m happy I got to play with him. He taught me a lot about the game, how to work, how to be a professional.”

The 2020 Patriots team was the franchise's first to miss the playoffs since 2008. It was the first Patriots team to finish with a losing record since 2000. The common denominator is Brady, who missed the 2008 season with a knee injury and sat behind Drew Bledsoe in 2000. As the 2020 Patriots finished 7-9, watching Brady leave and take the Buccaneers — who were 7-9 in 2019 — to the Super Bowl is a tough pill to swallow for some Patriots fans.

That’s not the case, however, for his former Patriots teammates. Brady’s legacy starts with his six Super Bowl championships in New England, but his presence in the locker room also helped shape the Patriots off the field. He taught young men how to be leaders. He also gave his teammates hope and helped create stories that they’ll tell their grandchildren.

 “I’m so happy for Thomas and all he’s accomplished," Patriots captain Matthew Slater said this week on CBS Boston. "He’s a tremendous human being, first and foremost. You don’t see athletes like this come around in any sport very often. He brings a unique sense of belief to the locker room.”

Brady also connected with teammates easily. He’d famously walk up to a newcomer, extend his hand and say, "Hi, I’m Tom Brady." It might be someone on the practice squad or a player who was with the Patriots only for a few months, but everyone has a Brady story. There also was a time when the quarterback was teammates with other players who grew up watching him. That only added to the allure.

“I’m so excited for Tom,” said Miami center Ted Karras, who was with the Patriots from 2016 to 2019. “Tenth appearance for a championship while joining a new team in a pandemic is a special accomplishment. Speaks to how hard he works to maintain being at the top of our field. Unprecedented in any industry for a chance to be crowned the best so many times. Watched him play in 2002, when I was eight, for a Super Bowl; played in three with him, and now watching again in 2021. Fun to be a small part in it. Rooting for him. I know he will be ready to go.”

But not quite all former Patriots are rooting for Brady. There are two hoping he loses this Sunday — Chiefs quarterback coach Mike Kafka and Chiefs receivers coach Greg Lewis. Kafka was teammates with Brady during the 2013 offseason before being released to make room for Tim Tebow. Lewis spent the 2007 offseason in Foxborough and was released at the end of training camp.

“Being a part of the organization and being up there and getting to practice with Tom and getting to pick his brain on certain things, I knew he could play until 100 if he wants to,” Lewis said. “So, that’s not surprising to me that he’s continuing to play and playing at a high level.”

“My time in New England with him was great,” Kafka said. “It was great in the quarterback room. Although it was short, it was a great experience for me. And, obviously, (Brady) is going to be a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest of all time.”

While talking on his "Double Coverage Podcast" with his twin brother, Jason, Devin McCourty compared Brady to watching your child leave for college. He said he believes Patriots fans should be happy for Brady as well.

“It’s like your child — sixth round, 199 pick. Your child — he left home, he left the nest,” Devin McCourty said. “Whatever you want to call it, he found success. You’ve got to be happy.”

“I’m a huge fan,” Jason McCourty said. “I wouldn’t have a ring if it wasn’t for Tom, and (Devin), you wouldn’t have three of them. Be happy. Be appreciative.”