New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft saw his team transform dramatically after rookie Tom Brady joined the team in 2000. Under Brady and Kraft's leadership, the Patriots won their first Super Bowl championship in 2002 and went on to win five more championships over the next two decades.
Clearly, Brady's first season was a major turning point in the team's history, and Kraft decided to purchase a rare, everlasting souvenir from that time.
On September 24, Kraft and Brady sat next to each other at Fanatics' first “Holy Grails” auction, where celebrities, athletes and business leaders gathered in Harlem Parish in New York City to buy some of the rarest cards in sports history. Among the items sold were Tom Brady collectible cards, including an autographed card from Brady's rookie season. The four Brady cards there were worth a combined $813,600. People.
Kraft wasted no time in getting a 2000 Playoff Contenders Rookie Ticket Tom Brady Autographed card. The team owner purchased the piece of Patriots history for $120,000. It was clearly a friendly gesture between the two, as they were seen talking and laughing together at the event.
Brady doesn’t joke when it comes to his friendship with Kraft. During his infamous Netflix mockery earlier this year, Brady’s biggest pet peeve was Jeff Ross’s joke about Kraft’s involvement in a 2019 prostitution bust. Brady took it so seriously that he stood up mid-joke and whispered in his ear, “Don’t you ever say that shit again.”
Brady is currently retired as a commentator for Fox Sports.