Rob Gronkowski Teases Big Project With Rival After Turning His Back on Tom Brady

In 2012, Peyton Manning was the enemy behind enemy lines—wearing orange and dealing heartbreak to Patriots Nation. Julian Edelman, then a young, scrappy wideout still climbing Tom Brady’s trust tree, admitted he hated Manning—not for who he was, but for what he represented. “I never liked Peyton,” he once said. “He was the guy.” Fast forward to 2025, and that same “guy” just staged one of the most unlikely offseason alliances in NFL lore—by linking up with both Edelman and Rob Gronkowski. For a fanbase that once lived and died by AFC Championship grudge matches, it’s a timeline no one saw coming.

Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski are still close, no doubt—but these days, their career paths are running in very different lanes. While Brady’s deep into his broadcasting transition with FOX, Gronk’s out here building a content empire with his Dudes on Dudes podcast alongside Edelman, hosting events, and—most recently—starring in a campaign with Brady’s oldest rival. That’s right. Rob Gronkowski just joined forces with Peyton Manning in an ad for Tiffany & Co.—and the move is already sending shockwaves across NFL fandom. It’s a campaign that’s part Super Bowl nostalgia, part tongue-in-cheek betrayal.

Back in March, Gronkowski playfully jabbed Brady on his podcast for not reaching out to him in his new role as Raiders part-owner. “Nope. Tom did not hit me up,” he said with mock disappointment. “He doesn’t even want me as a player anymore. That must mean he’s looking at me like I’m washed.” Now, two months later, Gronk seems to be getting the last laugh.

The former NFL TE took to Instagram on Monday to share a picture of himself posing with Manning and Edelman, as the trio held a Vince Lombardi Trophy. “The making of the Super Bowl trophy coming soon,” wrote Gronkowski, teasing about the trio’s campaign with Tiffany & Co. Truth to be told, it’s only now that this trio is casually posing with a Lombardi-like old pals. Back when they were playing, though? That picture would’ve looked very different.

Especially considering Peyton Manning gave the Patriots some serious headaches in the AFC Championship—twice. In 2006, Manning led the Colts to a wild 38-34 comeback win that still gives Brady and the Pats a nightmare. Then, in 2013, wearing a Broncos jersey this time, he knocked out Brady, Rob and the team again with a 26-16 win. So yeah, seeing Gronkowski and Edelman all buddy-buddy with Peyton now? It’s kind of wild.

Especially seeing Julian all smiles with Manning because, as shared above, the former WR has openly admitted he never liked the former Colts QB.

Peyton Manning steals Tom Brady’s ride or die

Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning is a decades-old feud. During the early 2000s, these two were the top QBs in the league, always in the spotlight for their performances. Although the Patriots’ legendary QB won three Super Bowl rings within the first four years of his career, many still see Manning as the better QB. Peyton’s Colts and Broncos both eliminated Brady-led Pats squads in the AFC Championship—battles etched in Foxborough trauma. If you were a Patriots fan in 2006 or 2013, the sight of Manning, Gronk, and Edelman cheesing together might trigger a cold sweat.

But Julian Edelman? He’s always backed Brady. Not just because they were teammates. But for another reason, too, he simply never liked where Peyton came from. “[Brady] was a Bay Area guy, and I never liked Indy. I got the tail end of that whole thing, the Indy-Pats. But I never liked Peyton Manning,” Edelman shared in an interview. “He was the guy, and he was a f—— stud. I liked Tom because… people were still saying Peyton was the best quarterback.” 

And fast forward to now, the former Pats wideout isn’t just posing with Manning. He even took to his Instagram to share the picture, captioning, “Playing the field, sorry @tombrady.” That lighthearted betrayal has only added to the buzz. Well, credit to Tiffany & Co. for bringing this unexpected trio together and putting a decades-old rivalry on ice.

Well, Brady must have enjoyed the playful banter, too. The seven-time Super Bowl champion hasn’t yet said anything about what his buddies have done, but with the Manning rivalry long behind him, he probably doesn’t mind at all. Or maybe Tom is busy cooking up his witty comeback, because when it comes to these legends, the game never really ends. So, we’re waiting excitedly to see if Brady fires back, or if he will just let this new alliance steal the spotlight for now.