NEW YORK — Tom Brady turned a routine card break into must-watch content Tuesday, mixing humor, rivalry and star power while unveiling the next wave of athletes set to appear at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026.
“How do you even have a rookie card… you’re not even an athlete!” Brady joked after pulling a Logan Paul card during a live broadcast on Fanatics Collect, drawing laughs from the more than 3,000 fans and collectors tuned in.
The 45-minute livestream doubled as a major announcement for Fanatics’ flagship summer event, with Brady revealing 10 additional names scheduled to appear July 16–19 at the Javits Center in New York. The group spans multiple sports and entertainment eras, including Eli Manning, John Cena, The Undertaker, David Ortiz, Roger Clemens, Henrik Lundqvist, Brett Favre, Paul Pierce and Dennis Rodman.
Brady opened hobby briefcases on stream, showcasing high-end graded cards for each athlete before giving them away to viewers. In total, approximately $30,000 worth of cards — along with event tickets and autograph and photo opportunities — were distributed during the broadcast.
The collectible highlights included a 2022 Topps Dynasty Gold David Ortiz patch autograph 1/1, a 1991 Stadium Club Brett Favre rookie card graded PSA 10, and a 2004 Topps Finest Eli Manning autograph rookie graded BGS 10. Fans also reacted strongly in the live chat to modern hits like a 2025 Topps Bape Superfractor John Cena card.
Brady, who has leaned into the trading card hobby since retiring from the NFL, emphasized the growing energy around collectibles and fan engagement.
“The energy around the collectible hobby and general fan activity is the best part of Fanatics Fest,” Brady said during the stream.
He also took a playful jab at Manning, his longtime rival. After pulling Manning’s card, Brady referenced their showdown at last year’s Fanatics Games, where Manning led early before Brady rallied to win the $1 million prize.
“Manning loses focus easily,” Brady said with a smile. “Eli… I am in your head!”
The latest additions join an already loaded roster for Fanatics Fest NYC 2026, which includes Brady, Aaron Judge, Kevin Durant, Diana Taurasi, Mike Tyson, Jay-Z, Travis Scott and Mariano Rivera, among others.
The four-day event — expanded from three days after drawing more than 125,000 attendees and 500 athletes last year — is expected to once again blend sports, culture and collectibles on a massive scale. Additional athlete announcements are scheduled in the coming weeks.