Tom Brady tells Bryson Dechambeau how Peyton Manning laid the foundation for the Patriots’ dominance

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Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski seemed to have a telepathic understanding.

The duo is arguably the greatest quarterback-tight end pairing of all time, though Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce might have something to say about that.

Brady and Gronkowski were unstoppable at their best

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Brady and Gronkowski were unstoppable at their bestCredit: Getty

Brady and Gronk won three Super Bowls with a dominant New England Patriots before taking the party to Florida and adding another with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The iconic QB was the last guest at Bryson Dechambeaus Break 50 series and opened up on long-term rival Peyton Manning’s influence on his career.

“I met with Peyton Manning once,” he began.

“We thought, ‘How do we get better?’ Because we are older and we are in the same systems.

“So we met for about three days down in Tennessee in 2010. And I learned a play that he used to run a lot. And I didn’t know how to play it.

“He taught me the play, we ended up installing the play in our offense. And we got Rob Gronkowski.

“Probably half of Gronk’s receiving yards ended up being on this concept. I swear to God. Obviously, Gronk is an absolute beast.

“I say, ‘Thank you, Peyton.’ And Peyton says, ‘I can’t believe you guys took the piece.’

What was the play? Simple is usually best.

Brady faked a pass to draw linebackers in, and Gronkowski would find a gap and wait for his good friend to find him.

Brady and Manning drifted apart for years

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Brady and Manning went toe-to-toe for yearsCredit: Getty
Gronk reaped the rewards of Manning's brilliant play

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Gronk reaped the rewards of Manning’s brilliant playCredit: Getty

It wasn’t rocket science, but NFL defenses never found a way to combat it.

Gronkowski compiled 620 catches for 9,275 yards and 93 touchdowns in 141 games with Brady.

Both are destined for the Hall of Fame and are now close friends, but it wasn’t always plain sailing.

Gronk’s first impression of the quarterback, who already had three Super Bowl rings, was that he was a “goof” before realizing he was just trying to help him reach his potential.

“I had talent. I was big. I didn’t give ***. I blocked my face. I ran routes. I was terrible, but I was also really good at the same time,” he shared People.

“And Tom lit a fire under my butt every single day in practice.

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“He got on my case every single day. If I wasn’t where I was supposed to be on an out route, he’d yell at me, he’d scream at me. Right when I get back in a pinch.”

Kelce and Mahomes are bidding to join Brady and Gronk on four Super Bowl titles.

The Kansas City Chiefs are 11-1 and cruising into the playoffs while chasing a three-peat.

Back-to-back-to-back Super Bowls is a feat even the Patriots duo couldn’t pull off and could seal the case for Mahomes and Kelce being declared the best QB-TE partnership ever.

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