


Will Levis did not have any believers in the first round on draft night.
But now, he’s got a future Hall of Famer in his corner — and someone who knows a little bit about getting snubbed at the NFL draft.
In a recent video for sports retailer Fanatics for the debut of the documentary series “The Locker Room,” a number of NFL stars and legends spoke directly to rookies, offering personalized words of encouragement for the next generation of players.
Tom Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion and the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards and passing touchdowns, had a message with a particularly strong resonance for Levis, the Kentucky product who was surprisingly passed over in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft.
“Waiting around on draft day, it sucks,” Brady said. “I know the feeling. It’s not easy. But I promise you one thing, it’s going to make everything that happens from this point on that much sweeter.”
Brady was selected 199th overall by the New England Patriots in the 2000 NFL Draft and would go on to break nearly every franchise and league record possible for a quarterback.
Levis, who was projected to be among the draft’s top picks by a number of outlets, slid out of the first round instead.
The Tennessee Titans finally selected Levis at the beginning of the second round with the 33rd overall pick.
Levis was honest about his disappointment after the first round was over.
“Last night was tough,” Levis said to ESPN after he was picked. “I knew that what was meant to be was going to happen. It’s one of those things where you feel like you’re going to handle yourself and be composed, but then the waterworks started flowing and just emotions got overwhelming.”
Brady also had impactful words for another rookie quarterback, Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts, who said he had never experienced anything quite like Brady’s message.
“A lot of great friends tell me you’re a better person than you are a quarterback, which says a lot because I’ve seen some of those throws you make,” Brady told Richardson.
Current NFL superstars and retired heroes alike delivered warm messages to rookies in the video, including Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, George Kittle, Jerry Rice, and Peyton Manning.
Levis will likely compete with Tennessee’s 2022 third-round pick, Malik Willis, for the backup quarterback spot behind Ryan Tannehill this year.