Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady is expressing his concerns about the NFL’s officiating and the increasing number of penalties in the 2023 season.
In a recent episode of the “Lets Go!” podcast, co-hosted by Jim Gray and Larry Fitzgerald, Brady discussed the controversial ending to the New York Giants’ 14-9 loss against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football. He commented, “It’s definitely a penalty,” referring to an uncalled holding, and emphasized the need for better officiating (starts at 5:43).
However, Brady is also critical of the abundance of penalties in this year’s games. He believes that football is a physical sport and that some of the penalties being called today wouldn’t have been flagged 20 years ago, significantly impacting the game (4:35).
Brady likened the current state of the NFL to flag football, where physical contact between players is discouraged and less frequent. He even mentioned that flag football will be an Olympic sport in 2028 and suggested that the NFL might move in a similar direction over time (8:30).
As one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, Brady’s opinions carry weight, and while they may not single-handedly change league policies, they could initiate a broader discussion about officiating throughout the league.
