Across the Atlantic his namesake is preparing for an eighth Super Bowl but, don’t try to tell Leicester Tigers' very own Tom Brady that this Saturday’s Anglo-Welsh Cup clash with Cardiff Blues is any less a fixture.
With a delayed start to the 2017/18 season through injury, including a few false-starts that ended in seeing him only take to the field at Christmas time in the Premiership 'A' League, Brady says he is tired of feeling ‘helpless’ as he watches on from the sidelines and is ready to push his claim to a spot in the team.
“You feel a bit helpless at times watching," Brady said. "I am just as much a fan as everyone else watching the boys and it has been hard lately."
Brady made his first senior appearance of the season in the Champions Cup defeat in Castres a fortnight ago, after months of only being able to contribute on the training pitch.
“I was a little bit rusty, the lungs and heart felt it the most,” he said.
“It was nice to be back out on the pitch with the lads though, hopefully now I can make a positive impression in helping us go forward."
“When you're training with the group you try and make a positive impact, so now that I am back playing I am hoping to make the same positive impact on the pitch.”
Brady’s only Welford Road appearance this season was in the Development XV’s win over Worcester Cavaliers in the 'A' League, his official return to the field from injury, and it didn’t take long for him to find the tryline.
Back in front of the Tigers Family this weekend, he’s just as keen to replicate that form and remind head coach Matt O’Connor that he’s ready to make a spot in the team his own.
“I need to score some tries to get myself feeling positive and play well, to nail down that spot so that when the Premiership returns in a few weeks' time it's Tom Brady's name on that shirt,” he said.
“I've been in Matty's office a couple of times, just to remind him I am ready and keen to prove myself. I want to be a starter in this squad.”
With internationals unavailable ahead of Six Nations duty and a handful of senior players set to be rested after a gruelling period of fixtures over the festive season, Brady – at 26 – will be one of the older statesmen during the Anglo-Welsh Cup fortnight.
However, with youth expected to be fielded from both sides, Brady says that on the back of current club form it’s time to get back to the basics and enjoying the game.
“It will be a youthful Cardiff squad but, to be honest, we haven't looked a whole lot at them and spent the time rather looking at ourselves,” Brady said.
“After one win in nine, it isn’t good enough and it's more about having a look at ourselves and reminding ourselves why we play the game. We all enjoy it, we're all good at it and that's why we're here at Leicester Tigers. We're getting back to the basics.”
