The controversy over deflated footballs in the 2015 AFC Championship that led to Tom Brady’s four-game suspension and years of litigation.
The Accusation
After the January 2015 AFC Championship (Patriots defeated Colts 45-7), reports emerged that 11 of 12 Patriots game balls were underinflated—below NFL’s required PSI. Deflated balls are theoretically easier to grip and catch. The NFL hired attorney Ted Wells to investigate. His report concluded it was “more probable than not” that Brady was “generally aware” of deliberate deflation by equipment staff.
Brady’s Suspension and Legal Battle
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Brady four games and fined the Patriots $1 million. Brady appealed, denying involvement. The case went to federal court—twice. Brady initially won, then lost on appeal. He served the four-game suspension to start the 2016 season. The Patriots went 3-1 without him and won the Super Bowl that year.
Science vs. Scandal
Patriots fans argued physics explained the deflation—the Ideal Gas Law meant cold weather naturally lowered PSI. The NFL’s report was criticized as junk science. But the Patriots’ history of rule-bending (Spygate 2007) made people assume guilt. By 2023, Deflategate remained divisive—Brady haters saw cheating; Patriots fans saw NFL vendetta.
References: