The UFC and the NFL have been linked together in multiple ways. NFL players have transitioned from the gridiron to the Octagon, with former fighters like Austen Lane, Greg Hardy, and former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar finding some success in the UFC. Even UFC CEO and President Dana White is passionate about football, and has spoken about his friendship with Patriots owner Robert Kraft and quarterback Tom Brady, both of whom, according to CBS, became minority owners of the UFC. The executive frequently praises the team’s dynasty and even participated in Netflix’s “The Roast of Tom Brady.”
Speaking of Tom Brady, the former quarterback unveiled a direct family tie to a key UFC executive during a Kick stream with UFC media personality, Nina Drama.
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Dana WhiteGetty
Appearing on stream, the seven-time Super Bowl champion shared a surprising piece of his personal life.
Tom Brady’s Cousin
Brady revealed with a smile, “My cousin, Sean Shelby, has worked for the UFC for over twenty years. That’s my boy. My first cousin. I love you so much, Sean.”
Here is a clip from the full stream, posted by Nina Drama:
The casual mention of the UFC’s longtime matchmaker and Vice President of Talent Relations created an instant and direct familial link between the NFL’s biggest icon and one of the most influential figures in fight sports.
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Continuing the conversation, Brady said of his cousin, “He’s done a great job of working with Dana over the years, and I’m a huge UFC fan, I love all those fighters.”
This revelation adds a fascinating new layer to the known business and personal relationships between the UFC and the rest of the sports world, but more specifically with the NFL.
Brady’s newly disclosed cousin, Sean Shelby, is a respected and pivotal figure in the business side of the UFC, responsible for helping book fights and managing the roster across multiple weight classes. The personal and professional networks of these two dominant sports entities are intertwined, going beyond fandom and investment into genuine family ties.
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Tom Brady’s Pick for UFC Goat
Further in his conversation with Nina, Brady revealed who he considers the greatest UFC fighters of all time.
“Jon Jones, and Khabib [Nurmagomedov. Love them both,” he said without hesitation.
Brady also entertained a hypothetical question about which three UFC fighters he would want by his side during an alien invasion.
He listed his three fighters, saying, “Khabib [Nurmagomedov], Jon Jones, and [Daniel] Cormier. I love DC. I know it’s hard to love DC and Jon, but I love them both.”
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Tom Brady’s appearance on the stream provided a rare and multifaceted look at his deep connections to the UFC world. His earnest discussion of the sport’s greatest fighters also gave him a chance to express his fandom and appreciation for MMA.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 17, 2025, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
