The 2025 NFL season is finally here, but the buzz isn’t just about what’s happening on the field. This time, the spotlight is on ESPN’s Ryan Clark, and fans can’t stop talking about his latest jaw-dropping take. Clark dropped a comment on “First Take” that sent shockwaves through the sports world, leaving everyone wondering: did he really just say that?
What Did Ryan Clark Say About Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Peyton Manning?
Clark, a former Super Bowl champion turned analyst, set off a firestorm on “First Take” Thursday morning when he made a statement that left fans stunned.
“I don’t think Tom Brady, I don’t think Drew Brees, I don’t think Peyton Manning are generational talents,” Clark said while debating whether Texas quarterback Arch Manning deserves that label.
Insane: Ryan Clark doesn’t think Tom Brady, Drew Brees, or Peyton Manning were generational talents…
“I don’t think Tom Brady, I don’t think Drew Brees, I don’t think Peyton Manning are generational talents.”
😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/KrudzSlZSV
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 4, 2025
It didn’t take long for fans to erupt online. Calling Brady, Brees, and Manning anything but generational is about as bold as it gets, and social media wasted no time letting Clark know how they felt.
“If your job is to talk about sports and you say things like this, you should be fired immediately,” ignited one fan on Clark.
If your job is to talk about sports and you say things like this, you should be fired immediately
— Jacobo Zakay (@JacoboZakay23) September 4, 2025
Meanwhile, frustration simmered among NFL fans.
“Get him off the air,” one fan wrote, summing up the mood.
Get him off the air
— Aaron E Sepulveda 🌮 (@AaronESepulveda) September 4, 2025
Another added, “That’s a hard one to defend, the greatest quarterback of all time is not a generational talent? That’s a head scratcher.”
That’s a hard one to defend–the greatest quarterback of all time is not a generational talent at quarterback… that’s a head scratcher.
— David Knox (@DavidKn56173324) September 4, 2025
Some fans saw it as nothing more than grabbing attention. “They just say things like this for attention,” another user said.
They just say things like this for attention
— StockStorm (@StockStormX) September 4, 2025
Then there were comparisons to some of the biggest hot-take artists in the game. One fan compared Clark to one of the most notorious hot-take artists in sports: “Crazy to see RC take the Skip Bayless path.”
Crazy to see RC take the Skip Bayless path….
— The Ca$hville Rican 🇵🇷🏴☠️ (@elijahblair615) September 4, 2025
Still, Clark’s comment seemed to hinge on how rarely he uses the “generational” label, not necessarily on whether Brady, Brees, or Manning were great. But, when you leave three of the most decorated quarterbacks in history off the list, you know it’s going to hit a nerve.
What Does Leaving Out Brady, Manning, and Brees Say About Generational Quarterbacks?
Brady’s seven Super Bowls and countless clutch moments defined two decades of football. Peyton, with his five MVPs and unmatched control at the line of scrimmage, changed how the position was played. And Brees, though often overlooked in debates, retired as the league’s all-time passing yards leader. For most fans, arguments like that say “generational” loud and clear.
Some wondered if Clark was talking more about their college days, since Arch was the focus. For example, Brady’s time at Michigan wasn’t nearly as attention-grabbing as what happened in the NFL. Even so, the debate instantly turned into a big-picture conversation that sounded less about college development and more like rewriting pro football history.
All the noise has people talking, which is probably part of Clark’s job. But with the regular season opener between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles happening tonight, his comments show how fiercely fans protect football’s legends.
In the end, leaving Brady, Manning, and Brees off the “generational” list isn’t just a hot take for many; it feels like a slap in the face to their legacies.
Ryan Who? Another ESPN racist big mouth. No one cares what he thinks. Please, Mon.
RC STANDS FOR RACIST CHUMP!!