Former NFL quarterback Matt Cassel, who backed up Tom Brady in New England, revealed how Brady would keep warm in the typical Massachusetts winter. Cassel appeared on the “Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Cassel” podcast. He recounted a memorable moment from his time with Brady, who taught him a unique method of staying warm during frigid games.
He described a particularly cold game where the temperature dipped to 17 degrees Fahrenheit, accompanied by a cold breeze and sleet.
Matt Cassel Spills the Beans on Tom Brady Keeping Warm in Winter Wonderlands
Cassel was so cold one game with the New England Patriots that he could not figure out how to leave the warm, friendly confines of the locker room. That was until he saw Brady, who would go on to become a seven-time Super Bowl champion, preparing for the game.
Cassel saw Brady donning a half-wetsuit for the chilling conditions outside. Cassel referred to it as Brady’s cheat code to staying warm in the cold climate.
“It is an absolute game-changer,” said the former backup QB about the half-wetsuit.
“Because you put that on and it just — the heat is insulated inside your body, and you don’t feel the elements like you would if you just wore a normal type of cloth.”
Matt Cassell talks about Tom Brady’s famous scuba suit
pic.twitter.com/suEbtSPUxY— TB EGO (@TomBradyEgo) January 25, 2025
Cassel spelled Brady one season when he was out with a knee injury. After not starting for his first three years in the NFL, Cassel directed the Patriots to an 11-5 record in Brady’s absence (10-5 in Cassel’s starts).
In Feb. 2009, the Patriots traded Cassel and Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for the 34th pick of the NFL Draft, which they turned into Patrick Chung.
The trade sent a message to the league that Brady’s knee was fine and they did not need an insurance policy as pricey as Cassel as their backup.
Former New England executive Scott Pioli orchestrated the trade as the general manager of the Chiefs. He was all too pleased with obtaining Cassel, who he thought would bring the franchise to heights never before seen in Kansas City.
“I have a long history with both players,” Pioli said. “Mike and Matt are men that I respect both personally and professionally. I look forward to having them as new members of the Chiefs family.”
Patriots coach Bill Belichick praised Cassel in a statement issued by the club.
“It is very easy to root for guys like Matt Cassel, who do everything the right way and flourish as a result,” he said. “As much as we would have loved to continue working with Matt, we wish him nothing but the best as he takes this next step forward in his career.”