Tom Brady Pays Powerful Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne After Sudden Passing — Reveals “Iron Man” Fueled His Legendary Super Bowl Comeback
The worlds of football and rock collided this week in an unexpectedly emotional way. Following the heartbreaking news of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne’s sudden passing, tributes poured in from around the globe — from fellow musicians, celebrities, and millions of fans. But one tribute stood out, both for its raw honesty and its unexpected source: NFL legend Tom Brady.
In a moving post shared on social media and later televised in a special ESPN segment, Brady revealed not only his deep admiration for the Prince of Darkness, but also a personal connection to Ozzy’s music that, until now, had remained private — one tied to one of the greatest moments in Super Bowl history.
“Iron Man” and the Comeback of the Century
The year was 2017. Super Bowl LI. The New England Patriots trailed the Atlanta Falcons 28–3 late in the third quarter — a scoreline that felt insurmountable to most viewers. But Tom Brady, known for his unshakeable poise and icy nerves under pressure, wasn’t done yet.
“I remember sitting on the sideline,” Brady said in his tribute video. “The stadium was roaring, the fans were doubting, even some of our guys were losing faith. I put my headphones in for just a second, not to tune anything out — but to lock in.”
The track he played? Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” — the 1970 metal anthem driven by Ozzy Osbourne’s haunting vocals and Tony Iommi’s thunderous guitar riffs.
“Iron Man wasn’t just a song to me in that moment,” Brady continued. “It was a reminder. Of power. Of grit. Of rising from something that seemed dead and coming back stronger.”
Minutes later, Brady led the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, ultimately winning the game in overtime and cementing his status as the GOAT — the Greatest of All Time.
“I never told anyone that,” he added. “But Ozzy was with me that night. His voice, his fire — it pushed me over the edge.”
A Rock Star’s Quiet Influence on a Sports Icon
While the image of Tom Brady — clean-cut, health-obsessed, and disciplined — may seem at odds with Ozzy Osbourne’s wild, drug-fueled, bat-biting persona, Brady says he’s always felt a kinship with the rock star’s energy.
“Ozzy never quit,” Brady said. “No matter what he went through — the addiction battles, health scares, career ups and downs — he always got back up. That’s something any competitor respects. That’s something I’ve lived by.”
Brady described listening to Black Sabbath as a high school quarterback, trying to psych himself up for Friday night lights. He even recalled blasting Ozzy in the weight room at the University of Michigan — “Crazy Train” being a favorite among his teammates.
“But it wasn’t just the sound,” Brady said. “It was the soul behind it.”
The Message to Ozzy’s Family That Brought Fans to Tears
Toward the end of his tribute, Brady addressed Ozzy’s family — specifically his wife, Sharon Osbourne, and their children Kelly and Jack.
“I know what it’s like to be part of a close family,” he said. “I know what it means to have someone who’s larger than life suddenly gone. To Sharon, Kelly, Jack — your husband and father didn’t just entertain millions. He inspired us. He lifted us when we didn’t even know we needed lifting.”
Brady paused, visibly emotional.
“There’s a lot I could say, but I’ll leave it at this: In my life, I’ve played through pain. I’ve fought back from losses. I’ve heard the cheers and the doubts. But I’ve never felt more invincible than when Ozzy was screaming in my ear, telling me through his music that I was unbreakable.”
He ended his message simply:
“Rest easy, Iron Man. You helped build champions.”
Sharon Osbourne’s Response
Just hours later, Sharon Osbourne responded to Brady’s tribute on her Instagram page.
“I’m in tears. Thank you, Tom,” she wrote. “Ozzy always admired you — your strength, your calm, your determination. He cheered for you every Sunday. The fact that you carried a piece of him with you onto the field… it means the world.”
She included a throwback photo of Ozzy in a Patriots jersey, flashing his signature devil horns hand sign and grinning wildly.
“Tom,” she wrote, “you were his kind of crazy.”
A Moment Bigger Than Music or Sports
Brady’s tribute has since gone viral, with fans from both the NFL and rock worlds uniting in mourning and celebration.
“Two legends, one legacy,” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Another commented, “Who knew Ozzy and Brady were part of the same miracle?”
It’s a reminder that influence doesn’t always look like mentorship or headlines. Sometimes it’s a sound in your ear before a storm. A riff that wakes something in you. A scream that says, don’t stop.
Remembering Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne, born John Michael Osbourne in Birmingham, England, rose to fame in the 1970s as the frontman of Black Sabbath, widely considered pioneers of heavy metal. Known for his wild stage antics, distinctive voice, and legendary resilience, Ozzy lived many lives in one: rock star, solo icon, reality TV dad, and survivor.
His struggles with addiction and health were well-documented, but so was his redemption arc — a man who came back again and again, proving that darkness could sing just as powerfully as light.
He passed away suddenly at age 76, reportedly of complications related to Parkinson’s Disease, which he had been quietly battling for several years.
A Final Note from the GOAT
In his final words on the tribute, Tom Brady looked into the camera, no longer the quarterback or the icon — just a man paying respect.
“People ask me what it takes to win. It’s not just training. It’s not just talent. It’s heart. It’s believing in something even when the scoreboard says you shouldn’t.”
He looked away, eyes damp.
“Sometimes that belief comes from the most unexpected places. For me, one of those places was a man in black leather and eyeliner who howled like a demon and loved like a lion.”
Then he smiled.
“I’ll always be grateful for that.”
Rest in peace, Ozzy Osbourne.
Your voice echoed across stadiums, arenas, headphones — and hearts.
Even the greatest among us needed your song to rise.
And rise they did.