American football icon Tom Brady added a famous new trophy to his collection, albeit temporarily, during a high-profile appearance at a major National Hockey League event in Miami on Friday night.
A Legend Gets His Hands on Hockey's Holy Grail
The seven-time Super Bowl champion was a special guest at the NHL's 2026 Winter Classic, where he was photographed carefully studying the Stanley Cup. Images show the legendary quarterback holding the enormous silver trophy in both hands, examining the names of past winners engraved upon it.
Brady's visit to LoanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins baseball team, was for the annual outdoor NHL game. This year's edition saw the Florida Panthers host the New York Rangers in front of an estimated crowd of 36,000 fans.
During the event, Brady was also presented with a personalised Florida Panthers jersey, bearing his famous number 12 and the name 'Brady' on the back.
Social Buzz and Podcast Appearances
The sporting appearance came amidst a flurry of personal publicity for the retired athlete. Just one day prior, viral footage surfaced showing Brady and 25-year-old model and influencer Alix Earle enjoying a flirtatious New Year's Eve celebration together in St. Barths.
The clips, taken at a Caribbean yacht party, showed the pair dancing closely and appearing affectionate as they welcomed 2026. Neither Brady nor Earle has publicly addressed the rumours directly, but Brady added to the speculation by sharing a poignant quote about love and kindness to his Instagram story as the videos spread online.
Earlier on the day of the Winter Classic, Brady recorded an episode of former NHL player Paul Bissonnette's popular 'Spittin' Chiclets' podcast. The two were later seen deep in conversation at the stadium.
Connections and Coming Attractions
The personal news carries an intriguing sporting connection. Alix Earle recently announced her split from Houston Texans wide receiver Braxton Berrios. Berrios, notably, was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2018 when Tom Brady was the team's starting quarterback.
Brady, 48, has been single since his divorce from supermodel Gisele Bündchen was finalised in October 2022. Since then, he has been linked to several high-profile women.
Professionally, Brady remains a dominant figure in sports broadcasting. He is two years into a monumental 10-year, $375 million deal with Fox Sports. This Sunday, he is scheduled to be in Chicago to commentate on the Bears vs Detroit Lions game for the network.
There is even potential for a coincidental meeting in the NFL playoffs, as Berrios's Texans team has qualified for the postseason. Their paths could cross depending on both teams' progress.
