NFL icon Tom Brady had plenty to celebrate on Tuesday night as Birmingham City, the English soccer club where he holds a minority stake, secured promotion back to the Championship, England’s second tier of professional football. The Blues clinched their return to the league with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Peterborough United, marking a triumphant bounce-back after their relegation from the Championship at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion and one of the most celebrated figures in American sports, took to social media to express his pride in the team’s achievement. “Proud of you lads! Way to go Blues! Let’s keep it going!” he posted on Instagram, accompanied by a celebratory message on his story: “Straight back to the Championship and not done yet. NFL fans are getting a crash course in the English football pyramid!!!”
The victory, powered by goals from Alfie May and Taylor Gardner-Hickman, ensured Birmingham a top-two finish in League One with six games still remaining in the season. Sitting atop the table with 95 points after 40 matches, the club holds a commanding 14-point lead over second-placed Wrexham, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. With this momentum, Birmingham is well-positioned to claim the League One title, needing just one more win to secure the trophy.
Brady, who joined Birmingham City as a minority shareholder in August 2023, has been vocal about his ambition to bring a winning mentality to the club. His involvement, alongside American investment firm Knighthead, has injected fresh energy into the Blues, who last played in the Premier League in 2011. Despite a rocky start that saw the team drop to League One last season—amid a brief and unsuccessful stint with manager Wayne Rooney—Birmingham has roared back under the leadership of manager Chris Davies.
Davies credited the club’s turnaround to a significant squad overhaul, with 17 new players brought in during the summer transfer window. The investment, reportedly exceeding £25 million ($32 million), has paid dividends, with Birmingham losing just three of their 40 league games this season. “This is just the first phase,” Davies said post-match. “We’ve woken a sleeping giant, and with the backing we’ve got, there’s more to come.”
For Brady, the promotion is a personal triumph in his first foray into soccer ownership. As chairman of the club’s advisory board, he has worked closely with the team’s sports science department, offering insights on health, nutrition, and recovery—expertise honed during his 23-year NFL career. While his stake in Birmingham is modest at 3.3% with no voting rights, his presence has brought global attention to the club, rivaled only by Wrexham’s Hollywood-backed rise.