Tom Brady has a soft spot for 50 Cent, and the NFL star let everyone know it during a broadcast. On Sunday (Sept. 13), Brady wished NFL rules analyst Dean Blandino a happy birthday on air while the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders faced off on FOX. Instead of the usual birthday greeting, Brady broke out a line from 50 Cent’s Billboard Hot 100 hit “In Da Club.”
“Go shawty, it’s your birthday,” Brady said as Blandino celebrated his 55th birthday. The moment caught fans off guard, and the confusion spread fast across social media. Essentially Sports covered the exchange, and the story made its way to 50 Cent himself.
The G-Unit founder responded warmly on Instagram. “Don’t worry Tom is gonna win, all he do is win,” 50 captioned his post.
The Birthday Rap
The exchange happened during the Sunday game between the NFC East rivals. Brady was on the call as the commentator, and Blandino’s birthday fell during the broadcast window. Rather than a standard congratulatory remark, Brady delivered a line from 50 Cent’s song.
Fans who did not know about Brady’s history with 50 Cent were taken aback. The moment was shared widely online, with users voicing their surprise at the unexpected musical reference.
Essentially Sports posted an article about the “In Da Club” exchange. That coverage reached 50 Cent on Monday (Sept. 14), and he responded publicly within hours.
50 Cent’s Instagram Response
50 Cent’s reaction was immediate and positive. He posted on Instagram, sharing a caption that echoed the football star’s reputation.
“Don’t worry Tom is gonna win, all he do is win,” 50 wrote. The message reads as a compliment wrapped in a prediction, acknowledging Brady’s track record while also nodding to the birthday reference.
The response shows a mutual respect between the two men. One is a quarterback who has won seven Super Bowls, and the other is a rapper whose songs have defined a generation of pop culture. Their paths rarely cross, but when they do, the interaction is warm.
A Long History of References
This is not the first time Brady has pulled from 50 Cent’s catalog. In 2019, Brady used “Many Men” to soundtrack an Instagram post after a playoff victory over the San Diego Chargers. The song was playing as TB12 celebrated the win on his way to winning another Super Bowl with the New England Patriots.
“Oh s–t he gonna do it again, he listening to Many Men getting his mind right,” 50 responded at the time. The exchange showed that 50 Cent had noticed the reference, and he was pleased about it.
Brady repeated the trick after his seventh Super Bowl win. In 2021, he posted a photo of himself hoisting the Lombardi Trophy on his Instagram Story, with “Many Men” providing the soundtrack. The song was back, and the moment was another reminder of the quarterback’s affection for the rapper’s work.
The Songs Behind the References
“Many Men” comes from 50 Cent’s debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, released in 2003. The track remains one of 50’s catalog standouts, a staple of his early years that helped establish him as a major force in hip-hop.
The song never made the Billboard Hot 100. That omission is a small detail in a career filled with hits.
“In Da Club,” the song Brady used for Blandino’s birthday, is a different story. It topped the Billboard Hot 100, a milestone that made it one of the rapper’s biggest hits. The song’s popularity means the reference was instantly recognizable to anyone watching the broadcast.
The Pattern of Brady’s References
What stands out about Brady’s behavior is the pattern. He does not simply drop a lyric once and move on. He returns to the same songs repeatedly, often at moments of triumph.
The 2019 playoff post came after a victory, and the 2021 Super Bowl trophy photo followed another championship. The birthday reference on Sunday was a lighter moment, but it followed the same logic. Brady uses these songs as a way of marking occasions, and 50 Cent has noticed each time.
The consistency is part of what makes the relationship interesting. Most athletes reference pop culture once and forget it. Brady keeps coming back, and 50 Cent keeps responding.
The Takeaway
The story is a small one, but it has legs. Brady’s references to 50 Cent have become a recurring feature of his public life, and each new instance builds on the last.
The fact that 50 Cent responded shows that the admiration is mutual. When an athlete takes the time to acknowledge a fan, it becomes a story. When a rapper takes the time to acknowledge an athlete, it becomes a bigger story.
Brady has proven that he can win games and championships. He has also proven that he can win friends, at least one of whom happens to be a rapper with a Hot 100 hit. The two men share a language, even if it is measured in song titles and birthday wishes.
The exchange was a moment of warmth in a broadcast full of competition. It was a reminder that sometimes, the best victories are the ones that happen off the field.
Hard Numbers
- Song: “In Da Club” — Billboard Hot 100 #1
- Album: Get Rich or Die Tryin’ — 2003
- Blandino’s birthday: 55th birthday
- Brady’s Super Bowl wins: 7 total
- Championship references: 2019 playoff win, 2021 Super Bowl win
- Hot 100 appearance: “Many Men” — none
- Hot 100 appearance: “In Da Club” — yes
Key Dates
- “In Da Club” exchange: Sunday (Sept. 13)
- 50 Cent’s Instagram response: Monday (Sept. 14)
- “Many Men” album release: 2003
- 2019 playoff win: vs. San Diego Chargers
- 2021 Super Bowl win: vs. Kansas City Chiefs