Tom Brady ‘hated’ Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson on Twitter before he became ‘Mr. Instagram’

Tom Brady ‘hated’ Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson on Twitter before he became ‘Mr. Instagram’

Tom Brady wasn’t always the GOAT of selfies.

When reflecting on his time in New England during a recent installment of the “Dudes On Dudes” podcast, former Patriots тιԍнт end Rob Gronkowski revealed how the future Hall of Fame quarterback — who boasts 18.1 million followers between his X and Instagram accounts — loathed the social media activity exhibited by his then-teammate, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, in the receiver’s lone season with the team.

“Tom absolutely hated that he was on Twitter,” Gronkowski told co-host and fellow Patriots alum Julian Edelman of Johnson, who was traded to the Patriots in July 2011.

Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson was traded to the Patriots in July 2011. AP

“… He was always on Twitter still and Tom and Coach [Bill] Belichick were just always grilling him, ‘Get off freaking Twitter,’ ‘Get off Twit, doesn’t help you in the game of football.’ But it never really, I would say… affected his game. Twitter was just, back then, they just acted like it did.”

Edelman, who spent his 12-season career in New England as a receiver, added, “We just did things differently in New England,” before Gronkowski finished the thought, “and he didn’t comply to it.”

A second-round pick out of Oregon State in 2001, Johnson began his career with the Bengals before being dealt to New England ahead of the 2011 regular season.

(From left) Patriots coach Bill Belichick, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and Tom Brady on the sideline in August 2011. REUTERS
Rob Gronkowski shared on the “Dudes on Dudes” pdocast that Tom Brady wasn’t fond of Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson’s social media activity. Dudes on Dudes podcast/ YouTube

Upon being released by the Patriots in June 2012, he signed with the Dolphins that same month.

Johnson, 47, was released by the team that August stemming from an arrest. He then pivoted to international leagues, including the CFL.

Ochocinco, who has since segued into broadcasting, currently has 3.1 million followers on X — with Brady, 47, in a similar follower ballpark at 3 million.

Tom Brady boasts 15.1 million followers on Instagram. Getty Images
The future Hall of Fame quarterback is fairly active on social media and regularly shares pH๏τos of his family. Tom Brady / Instagram

“The point is where I’m getting to is Tom is now Mr. Instagram or Mr. X, so that was the point I was getting to,” Gronkowski quipped.

Brady frequently documents his career ventures and family life on Instagram. He also welcomed Belichick, 72, to the platform in September 2024.

“Alright, guys. Party’s over, Bill’s here. It was a good run, but we gotta shut it. Welcome, coach, ” Brady said in an Instagram video.

Belichick, now readying for his first season as UNC’s football coach, has shared 12 posts since his Instagram debut, including a snap from the fall featuring his 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson.

The legendary Patriots coach has 445,000 Instagram followers and counting.

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