Tom Brady tweets to Eli Manning: ‘I wish you hadn’t won any Super Bowls’

As New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning spoke about his retirement Friday after 16 seasons in the NFL, tributes flowed from players, media and fans.

Before Manning stepped to the microphone, he received the ultimate compliment -- albeit, grudgingly -- from rival quarterback Tom Brady.

Brady and the New England Patriots lost twice to Manning-led teams in the Super Bowl. The first defeat, 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII, was particularly painful since it ended the Patriots’ bid for an undefeated season. The Giants beat the Patriots four years later; Manning was named the MVP in both of those games.

“Congratulations on your retirement, and a great career Eli!” Brady tweeted. “Not going to lie though, I wish you hadn’t won any Super Bowls.”

Congratulations on your retirement, and a great career Eli! Not going to lie though, I wish you hadn’t won any Super Bowls.
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) January 24, 2020

Asked about the tweet during his news conference, Manning was diplomatic.

“We joke about it a little bit, but it’s not real funny to him," Manning said.

Tom Brady tweets to Eli Manning: ‘I wish you hadn’t won any Super Bowls’ Tom Brady, left, lost twice to teams led by Eli Manning in the Super Bowl. (Elise Amendola/Associated Press )

Eli Manning responding to @TomBrady's tweet, says about the Super Bowl wins, "We joke about it a little bit, but it's not real funny to him." Then says those games were way more than Brady/Manning.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 24, 2020