Dave Portnoy lashes out at Buccaneers over Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski throwback ahead of Super Bowl LX

With Super Bowl LX just hours away, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers found themselves pulled into the spotlight for reasons unrelated to this season. On Saturday, the team’s official social media account shared a throwback video featuring former stars Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski celebrating their Super Bowl LV win. While the clip highlighted a proud moment in franchise history, the timing raised eyebrows, especially as attention across the league remains fixed on the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks preparing for Super Bowl LX.

The post quickly drew a sharp reaction from Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who felt the Buccaneers were inserting themselves into a moment that did not belong to them. With New England back on the Super Bowl stage for the first time since the Brady era, Portnoy argued that the focus should remain on the teams competing on Sunday, not on memories from a past championship.

Dave Portnoy questions Buccaneers’ timing as Patriots return to Super Bowl stage

Portnoy did not soften his criticism when responding to the post on social media. “It’s embarrassing. Never seen a franchise try to mooch off another franchise more than this,” he wrote, a comment that quickly gained traction among Patriots fans online. His reaction reflected a broader sentiment that Brady’s legacy is still closely tied to New England rather than Tampa Bay.

Brady spent 20 seasons with the Patriots and won six Super Bowls during his time there, becoming the face of one of the most successful dynasties in NFL history. Although his move to Tampa Bay in 2020 led to immediate success, including a Super Bowl LV title, many fans still view his greatest achievements through the lens of his Patriots career. In that championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Brady threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to Gronkowski, in a dominant 31-9 victory.

Since Brady’s departure, the Patriots have endured a long championship drought. That storyline may finally be changing. Under new head coach Mike Vrabel, New England has rebuilt its identity and emerged as an unexpected Super Bowl contender. The team secured the AFC title with a gritty 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos and now faces Seattle in Super Bowl LX.

As kickoff approaches, Portnoy’s comments underline a clear message. For Patriots supporters, this Super Bowl represents a chance to write a new chapter, one that stands on its own without being overshadowed by reminders from another franchise’s past.


Get the latest ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 updates, including the full schedule, teams, live scores, points table, and key series stats such as top run-scorers and wicket-takers.