Tom Brady has been the face of professional football for nearly 20 years. As a member of the New England Patriots, he was the face of one of the most historic runs in any sport and became synonymous not only with the team but with Boston sports as a whole. When he decided to take his talents south to Tampa Bay, then, it took the world by storm. As a result, several big names across many fields chimed in on the superstar quarterback’s decision.

Brady’s story has been told time and time again. Like Michael Jordan’s exaggerated account of being cut by his varsity basketball, Brady’s place as a sixth-round pick who was not expected to do anything has become a staple for coaches trying to inspire their players to be the best. It’s a great story that shows just how hard Brady had to work to be an NFL player, let alone a star. 

Brady wasted no time once he got the call to start, however. In 2001, he was a second-year player who had only appeared in one game. By the end of the playoffs, however, he was an up-and-coming superstar who had led his team to the Super Bowl. Little did people know, however, that Brady was just getting started in his path to domination. 

Brady has since won five more Super Bowl rings and appeared in almost half of the games since winning his first championship. While most dynasties fizzle out within a few years, Brady made the Patriots perennial contenders for the better part of two decades, and his impact on turning the Patriots into a marquee franchise and solidifying Boston as one of the winningest sports cities in the world. 

With 219 wins, just under 10,000 throws, 74,571 yards, 14 Pro Bowl seasons, three MVPs in New England, it is shocking to see the 42-year-old switch homes. The reactions reflected this.

One didn’t have to be a football player to appreciate what Brady did as a Patriot. Professional athletes know just how hard it is to find success in any sport, and the outpouring of love showed how respected Brady is. Antonio Brown, who was briefly a teammate of Brady’s, tweeted a simple goat emoji. Teammate Jarrett Stidham thanked his teammate and expressed his love. Fellow Patriots teammate Patrick Chung milked the 280-character limit on twitter with a heartfelt note. 

“Don’t worry about anything but you and your family boss!” he tweeted. “It’s been a pleasure man. Thank you for being you. Not even the QB but just the man you are. Your wife and kids have a amazing person to call their father and husband. Until we meet again boss!” 

The love was shared in other sports, too. NBA star Kevin Durant kept it simple, stating how excited he was to watch Brady in Tampa Bay. Soccer great David Beckham kept it simple with a goat emoji and, “The Journey continues @tombrady,” on Twitter. 

The outpouring of love didn’t stop there, either. 

Brady became a celebrity who was bigger than football, and as such, his reach was far greater than the average athlete. Actor Mark Wahlberg, whose affinity for Brady and Patriots is no secret, tweeted out a simple heart emoji. Chris Evans thanked Brady for his twenty years of entertainment for football fans everywhere. 

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, who got his start as a college football player, expressed simultaneous joy and heartbreak. 

“Spoken like a true leader,” he tweeted. “Hate to see you leave, but support you wherever you go, brother.” 

Rappers, politicians, actors, athletes, and fans were all affected by Brady’s time in New England, and seeing it end is like seeing history close a book. Whatever happens in Tampa, Brady will always be synonymous with Boston sports, but his impact goes far greater than any city, team, or league.