In July 2022, Max Kellerman’s 2016 prediction on “First Take” claiming that “Tom Brady’s just about done” resurfaced. The clip shared by Barstool Sports on X quickly drew attention.

Kellerman doubled down in that segment, saying the quarterback could “fall off a cliff” at any moment.

“It could be his next game he plays,” Kellerman said. “It could be a year from now. But he is going to fall off a cliff. Tom Brady is going to be a bum in short order.”

The take aged so poorly that when the anniversary hit, Brady decided to respond himself. He quoted the tweet with a classy jab.

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“@maxkellerman ratio + I have a swimwear line now 👍,” Brady tweeted.

By 2022, Brady had already proved Kellerman’s prediction wrong. After the 2016 Super Bowl win over the Falcons, the moment Kellerman believed marked the beginning of Brady’s decline, the quarterback went on to win three more Super Bowls. He won another ring the very next season after the infamous take, then added a seventh in his first year with Tampa Bay.

At age 44, Brady was preparing for his 23rd NFL season and had even briefly retired before returning weeks later. He also secured a future role with Fox Sports as an NFL analyst, ensuring his presence in football long after his playing days.

Max Kellerman’s Cliff Take: The day he finally said “I was wrong” about Tom Brady

In October 2020, ESPN’s Max Kellerman finally admitted his long-running prediction about Tom Brady “falling off a cliff” was wrong. The acknowledgment came after Brady delivered back-to-back standout performances with Tampa Bay, including four passing touchdowns and a rushing score against the Raiders.

Despite years of doubling down, Max Kellerman finally caved in on-air.

“I was wrong. Tom Brady never fell off a cliff,” Kellerman said with reluctance.

Kellerman tried to explain his original logic.

“That was the cliff — right around that age, 40 years old, certainly 41, 42, it was over,” he said. “I just looked at the actuary tables … If Tom Brady does it, he will be defying the odds. The fact that he has, he’s defied the odds.”

After the June 2019 comments, Brady won the Super Bowl that same season. The 28-3 comeback vs. Atlanta was historic and continues to be remembered. He also won MVP the following year and set a Super Bowl passing record.