Any time Colts fans come remotely close to thinking good thoughts about Tom Brady, two phrases leap to the front—the first that debuted Brady’s potential notoriety and the second that sealed that very nail in the coffin. It was a cold evening on January 19, 2002, at Foxboro Stadium when the former New England Patriots quarterback had practically invented the most controversial rule of all time. After a sack and fumble by Oakland Raiders’ Charles Woodson almost sealing a path toward victory for them, a replay review left the Raiders flabbergasted.

Citing the infamous “Tuck Rule” that nobody even knew existed till then, referee Walt Coleman determined that “Brady’s arm had been moving forward before he pulled the ball back to his body, the pass was incomplete”. The result? An eventual 16-13 win for Bill Belichick’s team enroute a Super Bowl, and Colts Nation’s raised eyebrows pointing out the privilege Brady just got offered. And if you think the hate’s pretty backhanded, let’s remind you of what happened at the same venue (ironically!) exactly 12 years later.

Specifically for the 2014 AFC Championship game vs the Indianapolis Colts, the Patriots found themselves in boiling hot water. During the game, the team had allegedly deflated the pigskin below the league-mandated pressure range at Brady’s behest because he “preferred the grip of softer balls”. A lengthy two-year, $22 million worth investigation later, the seven-time Super Bowl champ was suspended for four games during the 2016 regular season. The repercussions also presented itself as possibly one of the worst and lengthiest hate trains we’ve seen to date. In fact, even two years after the QB’s retirement, the hatred is still intact, and perhaps more intense.

That was clear at the 2025 Indianapolis 500, where the seven-time Super Bowl champion and FOX Sports analyst faced a thunderous chorus of boos as he circled the iconic track alongside seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. The moment wasn’t subtle. As Brady waved from the back of a two-seater IndyCar, a viral clip from 1075 The Fan said it plainly: “Yep, those are boos.” And if there was any doubt where Indianapolis stands, Pat McAfee’s wife made sure to clear that up…with a finger salute and a message of her own. “Hearing 400k+ humans boo Tom Brady was a true highlight of the day. Sorry, but my Colts blood runs thick. The finger was a bit much, that’s on me. 🐎💙,” die-hard Colts fan Samantha McAfee said on her Instagram Story

Notably, in the clip, someone (almost certainly her) was also seen flashing the bird with the packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the background. The gesture might’ve been bold, but it was far from out of place. Samantha has strong ties to the Colts. She met Pat McAfee while working as a nurse in Indy in 2009, the same year he joined the team. After a Hawaiian engagement and their 2020 wedding, the couple welcomed daughter Mackenzie in 2023. This is a Colts family through and through—and they had front-row seats for Brady’s cold reception.

But Brady was hardly fazed. Instead, he smiled and waved to the crowd. What’s more?

Tom Brady takes a jibe at the Colts fan

Tom Brady’s appearance at the Indy 500 was supposed to be a light-hearted media stunt. Riding in a custom two-seater IndyCar, Brady sported a FOX Sports firesuit and helmet as they led the warm-up lap before the race. But when he stepped onto the historic Brickyard track, the response from fans wasn’t just cold—it was ice.

Still, the GOAT didn’t flinch. Instead, he trolled the moment on Instagram, sharing photos of his lap and writing: “💍 x14. What an incredible experience at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend. Thanks to the @foxsports family for putting on an incredible show, and to my friend, the best driver in the world and 7x champion @jimmiejohnson, for letting me tag along as we led out the pack. I’ll be back, and next time I’m driving!!! P.S.: It was great to get in one more successful drive in front of a bunch of Colts fans 😂.” Even in retirement, Brady’s still delivering jabs like it’s 2007.

While the boos rained down, history was made on the track. Alex Palou became the first Spaniard to win the Indianapolis 500, and former NFL star Michael Strahan served as the pace car driver—blending the best of football and racing on one of the sport’s biggest stages. But it was Brady who stole the attention.

Despite his transition into broadcasting, highlighted by a $375 million FOX Sports deal and a minority ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, controversy seems to follow wherever he goes. Whether it’s the boos in Indy or the scrutiny over his new business ventures, Brady remains one of the most polarizing figures in sports. One thing’s for sure: If he ever returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he better keep that helmet on.