Tom Brady may be a seven-time Super Bowl champion, but his fashion sense is taking a beating after the WNBA season opener. The retired quarterback turned part-owner of the Las Vegas Aces showed up to Saturday's game sporting a bold red leather jacket that had fans doing a double take—and not in a good way.
The Aces tipped off their 2026 campaign with a championship celebration after sweeping the Phoenix Mercury in the 2025 WNBA Finals. Brady, who holds a stake in the team through his ownership in the Las Vegas Raiders alongside Mark Davis, was on hand to soak in the festivities. But instead of talking about the Aces' title defense, social media lit up over his outfit.
Brady's look—a bright red jacket, white T-shirt, and black pants—was an unmistakable nod to Michael Jackson's iconic "Beat It" music video. The timing seemed especially curious given the recent release of a Michael Jackson biopic in theaters. Fans were quick to pile on, with one writing, "Tom Brady went to see Michael and decided to wear his red jacket 😂." Another chimed in, "Faux-pas, Tom! Come on."
The criticism didn't stop there. "Tom Brady wearing a red jacket and the first thing I thought about was Beat It lmaoooo," one user posted. Another simply declared, "Tom can't pull that off." The Daily Mail noted that Brady, 48, came dressed for the occasion but may have leaned a little too hard into the King of Pop's style.
Of course, this isn't the first time a sports figure has faced heat over what they wore to a big event. The Kentucky Derby dress code debate has sparked similar conversations, and even influencers have been called out for crossing the line at Churchill Downs. But Brady's fashion misstep hits different because he's usually the one setting trends, not following them.
Brady likely doesn't lose sleep over online chatter. He's built a career on doing things his way, both on and off the field. But the reaction to his jacket shows that even GOATs can have off days in the style department. Whether he'll double down on the look or retire it remains to be seen.
The Aces' opener also featured plenty of drama on the court, including Caitlin Clark's frustration with officiating and a shove in the Fever opener that sparked a 'dirty player' debate. But for one afternoon, Brady's jacket stole the spotlight.
Love it or hate it, the red jacket has become the talk of the WNBA season so far. And if Brady's track record is any guide, he'll probably wear it again just to prove he doesn't care what anyone thinks.
