Tom Brady has never been shy about what he believes it takes to win in the NFL. Now, the seven-time Super Bowl champion is questioning a growing trend across the league: established stars sitting out preseason games.
In an Instagram post on August 16, Brady pushed back against players looking for what he called “easy ways out.” His message was simple: when football season arrives, football players should play. Brady supported his point by sharing footage from a 2010 preseason game in which he connected with Randy Moss for a 65-yard touchdown.
It has reopened one of the NFL’s biggest August debates.
Brady Believes Live Reps Matter
Brady’s argument comes from experience. During his career, preseason wasn’t simply about earning a roster spot. It was an opportunity to sharpen timing, build chemistry and prepare for regular-season intensity.
In 2014, Brady described a preseason matchup as a chance to “gauge where we’re at” against a quality opponent. Even after he became one of football’s biggest stars, live preseason snaps remained part of his preparation at different stages of his career.
The modern NFL has increasingly moved in another direction.
With most teams playing only three preseason games, coaches have limited opportunities to evaluate their rosters while also protecting established starters. The 2026 preseason continues that three-game format for 30 teams, with Carolina and Arizona receiving an additional game because of their Hall of Fame Game appearance.
Why NFL Stars Don’t Want the Risk
The counterargument is obvious: why risk a season-changing injury in a game that doesn’t count?
Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones recently made that position clear, questioning the value of preseason action compared with the injury risk.
History supports that concern. Stars including Jordy Nelson and Odell Beckham Jr. have suffered significant injuries during preseason action. For coaches managing multimillion-dollar players and Super Bowl expectations, protecting starters can be more important than getting a handful of extra snaps.
Brady’s comments ultimately expose a philosophical divide.
For veterans with years of NFL experience, preseason may offer little that training camp cannot provide. But for rookies, backups and players fighting for roster spots, these games remain critical. Brady himself made his Patriots debut during the 2000 Hall of Fame Game before eventually becoming the most decorated quarterback in NFL history.
Brady believes preparation helped build his career. Today’s NFL increasingly believes preservation is part of preparation.
The question is whether teams have pushed that philosophy too far.
