Tom Brady is, quite literally, saying “hello from the other side” to his former team, the New England Patriots.
In a new promo for that aired before tonight’s face off between the Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady’s first time playing at Gillette Stadium as the Buccaneers’ quarterback was soundtracked by Adele’s ballad “Hello.”
The dramatic clip compiles video from the 20 seasons he played for the Patriots, along with a close up of coach Bill Belichick’s face, looking unamused. As Adele belts the song’s emotional chorus, clips of Brady in his Buccaneers jersey flash by, along with video of Patriots fans cheering.
The promo immediately caused chatter on Twitter, with fans and journalists either questioning the song choice or praising its humor.
“Putting the Brady-come-back-to-New-England montage to Adele’s ‘Hello’ is the funniest thing I have ever heard,” wrote Fox Sports writer Charlotte Wilder.
Putting the Brady-comes-back-to-New-England montage to Adele’s “Hello” is the funniest thing I have ever heard
— Charlotte Wilder (@TheWilderThings) October 4, 2021
David Spade chimed in with, “I think they’re going too overboard with this ‘Brady Return.’ They’re playing Adele? Are they kidding? Its a game. Enough. Just play #nfl.”
I think they’re going too overboard with this ‘Brady Return’. They’re playing Adele? Are they kidding? Its a game. Enough. Just play #nfl
— David Spade (@DavidSpade) October 4, 2021
“Adele on this intro is the laugh I needed,” said NFL data scientist Cynthia Frelund. “Well done @SNFonNBC.”
Adele on this intro is the laugh I needed. Well done @SNFonNBC 👏🏼
— cynthia frelund (@cfrelund) October 4, 2021
In addition to it being Brady’s first time back in Foxborough, Mass. since leaving the Patriots, the game is also likely to be history-making for the quarterback, who is just 68 yards away from surpassing former New Orleans Saints player Drew Bees as the leading passer in the history of the NFL.
Watch the full Sunday Night Football promo below.
Tom Brady is on the field in New England.
Watch #TheReturn now on NBC and @peacockTV.
🎶 @Adele pic.twitter.com/txD5Mox9I6
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) October 4, 2021