On February 22, 2026, the USA Men’s Hockey Team clinched their first Olympic gold since 1980, with Jack Hughes scoring the overtime winner less than three minutes into extra time. This exhilarating moment was met with widespread applause not just from hockey enthusiasts but also from NFL players who took to X to express their excitement over the team’s accomplishment. Among them, Patrick Mahomes prominently shared his celebration of the victory, highlighting the significance of this milestone in American sports history.
The long-awaited gold medal win invigorated voices across the NFL community, blending the worlds of football and hockey in joyful acknowledgment of the USA squad’s resilience and skill.
Tributes from NFL Greats to the New Hockey Champions
Tom Brady was swift to share his admiration, posting a photo with Jack and Quinn Hughes, captioned simply as LEGENDS. Given Brady’s status as a football icon, this succinct praise carried substantial weight, underscoring the respect held for the hockey stars.
LEGENDS 🥇 @usahockey pic.twitter.com/R1BUGBPDmC
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) February 22, 2026
Meanwhile, Robert Griffin III approached the celebration with a controversial twist, attributing the USA’s gold medal win in hockey to karma due to alleged unfair play by Canada in curling.
Canada cheating to win Curling Gold, cost them the Olympic Gold in Hockey. The ice don’t lie.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) February 22, 2026
Pat McAfee, former Indianapolis Colts punter and current media personality, expressed his excitement through a vivid post showing himself celebrating on his patio. His exuberance summed up the emotional release felt by many fans and athletes alike after the dramatic victory.

Quarterbacks and NFL Stars Share Their Reactions Online
Other notable voices included Chase Daniel, who enthusiastically cheered with a simple rallying cry: LETS GOOOOOO USA. Patrick Mahomes reacted with a reserved but powerful display of patriotism, posting three American flags in response to the game-winning goal.
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) February 22, 2026
Kurt Warner, celebrated for his role in the “Greatest Show on Turf,” echoed the excitement with a jubilant tweet highlighting the intense nature of the game and the triumph of USA Men’s Hockey.
US MEN’s HOCKEY!!!! 🥇 What a game!!!
— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) February 22, 2026
Will Compton, known for his podcast Bussin With The Boys, embraced the moment with an outpouring of patriotic chants and a visual display of multiple American flags, showing his overwhelming pride.
USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) February 22, 2026
From the journalist perspective, David Lombardi of the SF Standard encapsulated his thoughts with the succinct statement: The better country won.
The better country won 🇺🇸
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) February 22, 2026
Insiders and Analysts Share Their Thoughts on the Historic Game
Ari Meirov from The 33rd Team described the winning goal as one of the most memorable moments he had witnessed, despite not being a dedicated hockey fan. His sentiment highlighted the universal impact of the victory beyond traditional sports boundaries.
I’m not an avid hockey guy, but this is one of the coolest sports moments I’ll never forget. pic.twitter.com/Mw4JeXikCu https://t.co/CHnc0MD4pJ
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 22, 2026
Dan Orlovsky, a former NFL quarterback turned insider, praised the team’s grit and determination throughout the match, capturing the intensity and emotional stakes of their path to gold.
The boys did it. Amazing moment. Pure guts all game. https://t.co/CbwE6ryraE
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) February 22, 2026
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle added a spirited call for celebration, urging fans to play “Free Bird” in honor of the win, mixing sports enthusiasm with popular culture.
USA PLAY FREE BIRD!!!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
— George Kittle (@gkittle46) February 22, 2026
Powerful Cross-Sport Support Reflects the Victory’s Wide Resonance
From current players to retired legends and media insiders, the collective reaction shows how the USA Men’s Hockey gold medal has captured hearts across different athletic communities. This shared excitement underscores the broad significance of the win, ending a 46-year gap since the last time the USA reached the pinnacle of Olympic hockey success.
The fusion of voices from the NFL and hockey worlds amplifies the moment’s impact, serving as a reminder of how sports moments can unite fans and athletes around shared pride and national accomplishment.
Looking ahead, this victory not only honors the legacy of the original 1980 “Miracle on Ice” but also signals a promising resurgence for USA hockey on the global stage, inspiring both players and supporters for years to come.
LEGENDS 🥇 @usahockey pic.twitter.com/R1BUGBPDmC
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) February 22, 2026
LEGENDS 🥇 @usahockey pic.twitter.com/R1BUGBPDmC
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) February 22, 2026
Canada cheating to win Curling Gold, cost them the Olympic Gold in Hockey. The ice don’t lie.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) February 22, 2026
Canada cheating to win Curling Gold, cost them the Olympic Gold in Hockey. The ice don’t lie.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) February 22, 2026
LET’S FUCKING GOOOOOO
OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL COMES HOME
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/XkXwRLbEU1
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 22, 2026
LETS GOOOOOO USA 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) February 22, 2026
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) February 22, 2026
US MEN’s HOCKEY!!!! 🥇 What a game!!!
— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) February 22, 2026
USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸— Will Compton (@_willcompton) February 22, 2026
The better country won 🇺🇸
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) February 22, 2026
I’m not an avid hockey guy, but this is one of the coolest sports moments I’ll never forget. pic.twitter.com/Mw4JeXikCu https://t.co/CHnc0MD4pJ
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 22, 2026
The boys did it. Amazing moment. Pure guts all game. https://t.co/CbwE6ryraE
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) February 22, 2026
USA PLAY FREE BIRD!!!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
— George Kittle (@gkittle46) February 22, 2026
