Tom Grady was named the MVP of this year’s Arena Bowl. Yes, you read that right.
"So, we want to address the elephant in the room."
Sure, Tom Brady might be the GOAT of the NFL. But the Arena Football League has its own champion, and his name is Tom Grady.
Well, he goes by Tommy. But still.
Grady, the quarterback of the Albany Empire, was named MVP of ArenaBowl XXXII after leading his team to a 45-27 championship win Sunday night against the Philadelphia Soul. The 34-year-old completed 16 of 25 passes for 200 yards and had five touchdowns and zero interceptions. And his performance was no fluke.
The Albany Empire win #ArenaBowl32! pic.twitter.com/iIS7T8aRlx
— ESPN (@espn) August 12, 2019
In fact, just like his similarly named New England Patriots counterpart, Grady has been racking up awards in the indoor football league. Last week, he won the AFL’s season MVP award for the second straight year and for the third time overall. The Huntington Beach, California, native also holds the AFL record for most touchdown passes in a game (12), as well as touchdown passes and passing yards in a season.
“So, we want to address the elephant in the room,” the AFL’s official Twitter account wrote Monday night, promoting Grady and his accomplishments and tagging Brady’s account.
https://twitter.com/OfficialAFL/status/1161084813975150592
The 6-foot-7 former four-star University of Oklahoma recruit reportedly even worked out with the Patriots’ AFC East rival Miami Dolphins in 2010, after going undrafted in 2008. He has since made a career out of playing quarterback in the AFL and, according to his Facebook and LinkedIn pages, as a real estate agent and loan officer in several cities.
Even if Grady goes by a different, shortened variation of the name Thomas, that didn’t stop the jokes from flowing following his performance Sunday.
https://twitter.com/hazepdx/status/1161171285155573760?s=20
https://twitter.com/techhonors/status/1161019767366606849?s=20
The QB of the 2019 Arena Football League is named Tom Grady. FSU now recruiting all senior QBs named Tom Frady
— For The Table (@ForTheTable) August 13, 2019
The MVP of Arena Football this past year is named Tom Grady. Tom Brady is Top 3 all time NFL QB. So dear future wife, do not question why I am naming all my first son Tom Shady.
— Backor McLaughlin (@MBackor) August 13, 2019
“Tom Grady” pic.twitter.com/a0DAqc7QPK
— Jared (@OnAirWithJD) August 12, 2019
The similarity also wasn’t missed on a number of fans at the game Sunday.
Grady > Brady @Albany_Empire #UnfinishedBusiness pic.twitter.com/RKLUyF6fgr
— Jeff Levack (@THEjefflevack) August 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/SeanPBB/status/1160721190966714368
