Tom Brady sparked backlash on Sept. 22, 2025, for comparing a player’s helmet toss to kicking a dog, drawing criticism despite his animal advocacy.

Tom Brady faced backlash on September 22, 2025, during a Fox broadcast of the Bears vs. Cowboys game after comparing a player’s helmet toss to kicking a dog, saying, “It’s like the dog at home. Kick the dog, throw the helmet.” The remark, made following a dropped pass by George Pickens, drew swift criticism for appearing to condone animal abuse, prompting condemnation from PETA and widespread social media outrage. Despite Brady’s known advocacy for animals and history with rescue dogs, he has not publicly addressed the comment, which was not acknowledged by his co-commentator and went uncorrected during the broadcast. The incident sparked debate over the influence of sports broadcasters and the use of potentially harmful metaphors.