For Colts fans, Tom Brady isn’t just a rival. He’s the villain. That was clear at the 2025 Indianapolis 500, where the seven-time Super Bowl champion and FOX Sports analyst faced a thunderous chorus of boos as he circled the iconic track. The moment wasn’t subtle. As Brady waved from the back of a two-seater IndyCar, a viral clip from 1075 The Fan said it plainly: “Yep, those are boos.” And if there was any doubt where Indianapolis stands, Pat McAfee’s wife made sure to clear that up…with a finger salute and a message of her own.
Samantha McAfee, a die-hard Colts fan and wife of the former punter-turned-broadcaster, posted an Instagram Story that quickly lit up NFL social media. In the clip, someone (almost certainly her) flashes the bird with the packed Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the background. Her caption sealed the moment: “Hearing 400k+ humans boo Tom Brady was a true highlight of the day. Sorry, but my Colts blood runs thick. The finger was a bit much, that’s on me. ”
The gesture might’ve been bold, but it was far from out of place. Samantha has strong ties to the Colts. She met Pat McAfee while working as a nurse in Indy in 2009, the same year he joined the team. After a Hawaiian engagement and their 2020 wedding, the couple welcomed daughter Mackenzie in 2023. This is a Colts family through and through—and they had front-row seats for Brady’s cold reception. So why all the hostility? Why can’t Colts fans just let it go?
The answer stretches beyond just wins and losses. It’s Deflategate. Back in 2014, after the AFC Championship blowout, it was the Colts who first raised concerns about underinflated footballs. The NFL’s subsequent investigation concluded that Brady was “generally aware” of the tampering. He served a four-game suspension in 2016, but Colts fans never forgave—or forgot.
Tom Brady takes a jibe at the Colts fan
Tom Brady’s appearance at the Indy 500 was supposed to be a light-hearted media stunt. Riding alongside 7-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson in a custom two-seater IndyCar, Brady sported a FOX Sports firesuit and helmet as they led the warm-up lap before the race. But when he stepped onto the historic Brickyard track, the response from fans wasn’t just cold—it was ice.
Still, the GOAT didn’t flinch. Instead, he trolled the moment on Instagram, sharing photos of his lap and writing: “ x14. What an incredible experience at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend. Thanks to the @foxsports family for putting on an incredible show, and to my friend, the best driver in the world and 7x champion @jimmiejohnson, for letting me tag along as we led out the pack. I’ll be back, and next time I’m driving!!! P.S.: It was great to get in one more successful drive in front of a bunch of Colts fans .” Even in retirement, Brady’s still delivering jabs like it’s 2007.
While the boos rained down, history was made on the track. Alex Palou became the first Spaniard to win the Indianapolis 500, and former NFL star Michael Strahan served as the pace car driver—blending the best of football and racing on one of the sport’s biggest stages. But it was Brady who stole the attention.
Despite his transition into broadcasting, highlighted by a $375 million FOX Sports deal and a minority ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, controversy seems to follow wherever he goes. Whether it’s the boos in Indy or the scrutiny over his new business ventures, Brady remains one of the most polarizing figures in sports. One thing’s for sure: If he ever returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he better keep that helmet on.
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