NFL conversation hit a boiling point this week after ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky sparked widespread backlash with a blunt take on the 2025 MVP race, claiming that Josh Allen is “just the past now.” The remark, delivered amid heated debate about the league’s most valuable player, spread rapidly across social media—and it didn’t take long before a defining voice pushed back.

That voice belonged to Tom Brady.

The seven-time Super Bowl champion and widely regarded greatest quarterback of all time responded publicly, offering a firm and pointed defense of Josh Allen—a player Brady has long respected for redefining what modern quarterback power and leadership can look like.

“That’s not how greatness works,” Brady said when asked about Orlovsky’s comment. “You don’t erase someone’s impact, dominance, or value because of one season, one injury, or one narrative. Josh Allen is not the past. He’s still the benchmark.”

Orlovsky’s take came during a fiery MVP segment on ESPN, where he argued that the league has moved on from Allen and that other quarterbacks now define the race. The phrasing struck a nerve—especially given that Allen’s season has been shaped by physical wear and shifting circumstances that many fans and analysts felt were being conveniently overlooked.

Brady, who knows better than anyone what it means to endure injuries, late-career skepticism, and constantly shifting narratives, urged perspective over reaction.

“I’ve been there,” Brady added. “People are always ready to crown the next guy and bury the last one. But real value isn’t erased by circumstance. It’s built over time—and Josh has earned that respect.”

Allen’s résumé remains elite: MVP-caliber seasons, deep playoff runs, and years of carrying one of the league’s most demanding offenses with toughness and accountability. Brady emphasized that judging Allen through the lens of a single turbulent stretch ignores the broader truth of what defines MVP-level impact—leadership, durability, and the ability to elevate an entire franchise.

Around the league, Brady’s words resonated. Many viewed his response not merely as a defense of Allen, but as a broader critique of how quickly modern sports discourse can turn—especially when immediacy outweighs legacy and consistency.

While Allen has yet to respond publicly, voices inside the Bills’ locker room have echoed similar sentiments, stressing that preparation, competitiveness, and winning habits don’t disappear overnight.

For Brady, the message was deliberate. MVP races come and go. Opinions shift weekly. But true greatness doesn’t expire on a television segment.

“The league hasn’t moved past Josh Allen,” Brady said. “The conversation just forgot who helped set the standard.”

As the 2025 season races toward its finish, the MVP debate will continue to evolve. But thanks to Brady’s intervention, one thing has been firmly reestablished: Josh Allen’s place in the NFL isn’t history—it’s very much the present.