NFL legend Tom Brady attended Nebraska’s volleyball opener with daughter Vivian, where he shared a friendly embrace with star Harper Murray.
Tom Brady found himself at the center of a social media frenzy after sharing a warm embrace with Nebraska volleyball star Harper Murray during a recent outing with his daughter Vivian.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion was among the spectators watching the Nebraska Cornhuskers begin their 2026 season against the Texas Longhorns.
Brady attended the highly anticipated match alongside his 13-year-old daughter, Vivian, who shares her father’s enthusiasm for volleyball.
Before the action began, Nebraska star Harper Murray, 21, made her way toward the stands to greet Brady and Vivian.
What appeared to be a friendly pre-match exchange quickly attracted attention online after video and photographs of the interaction circulated across social media.
Murray initially shook Brady’s hand before the pair embraced. The hug prompted plenty of reactions from fans, with some social-media users speculating about the interaction.
However, there was no indication that the exchange was anything more than a friendly greeting between two people connected through Michigan athletics and their shared interest in volleyball.
Why Tom Brady knows Harper Murray
Brady and Murray have a connection through Michigan, where Brady played college football at the University of Michigan before embarking on his legendary NFL career.
Murray, meanwhile, grew up in Ann Arbor and became one of the most highly regarded volleyball prospects in the country before joining Nebraska.
The Michigan connection appears to have provided a natural link between the two sports stars.
![After the game, Murray said: 'I know him [Brady] through some Michigan connections and the football program and administration there'](https://celebsvibe.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/we-wqew-qewq-ewqwe-wqe.png "Tom Brady Shares Warm Embrace With 21-Year-Old Volleyball Star Harper Murray 3")
Murray addressed Brady’s appearance after Nebraska defeated Texas in straight sets, praising the NFL icon for showing support for women’s volleyball.
“I know him through some Michigan connections and the football program and administration there,” Murray explained after the match.
She also suggested that Brady’s connection to the sport was partly through his daughter, who has developed an interest in volleyball.
“I know his daughter’s into the sport, so I’m sure that’s how he got into it and grew a love for the game,” Murray said.
The Nebraska star also welcomed the presence of a sporting legend at the match, highlighting the growing popularity of volleyball.
“I think it’s awesome that we have people who are legends in their sport wanting to come and support a sport that’s growing in the last few years and has been so popular,” Murray added.
“I think it’s just really fun. I know our team loved that he was here.”
Nebraska’s official social-media accounts also highlighted the meeting, sharing images of Brady and Murray together and accompanying the post with a handshake emoji.
Brady responded directly in the comments, writing, “Thank you and good luck this season LFG.”
His message added another layer of attention to an interaction that had already begun circulating widely online.
Vivian Brady’s connection to volleyball
Brady’s appearance at the Nebraska-Texas match was particularly notable because he was accompanied by Vivian, his 13-year-old daughter.
Vivian has previously shown an interest in sports, and her presence at the match offered another explanation for Brady’s enthusiasm for Nebraska volleyball.
The former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback has remained heavily involved in his children’s sporting interests since retiring from his legendary NFL career.
Rather than simply attending the match as a celebrity guest, Brady appeared to be enjoying the event alongside his daughter as Nebraska opened its new campaign.
The appearance also comes as women’s college volleyball continues to attract significant mainstream attention, with major programs such as Nebraska regularly drawing huge crowds and extensive social-media engagement.
Tom Brady makes headlines with son Jack
Brady’s appearance in Nebraska was not the only reason his family was making headlines recently.
Just days earlier, his eldest son, Jack, was photographed with his mother, actress Bridget Moynahan, at the US Open in New York.
Jack, 19, is Brady’s son from his previous relationship with Moynahan, best known for her role as Erin Reagan on Blue Bloods and for appearing in Sex and the City.
The teenager recently celebrated his graduation from Riverdale Country School, an elite private school in New York City.
Jack has also continued a tradition of attending the US Open with his mother. The pair were among the guests at the tournament after being hosted by Emirates during the opening day of singles competition.
Photos from the event quickly attracted attention because of Jack’s impressive height.
Standing at around 6 feet 6 inches, the teenager towered over his mother in photographs taken as they arrived at the tournament. His height has frequently been compared with that of his famous father, who is listed at 6 feet 4 inches.
In one red-carpet photograph, Jack stood noticeably taller than Moynahan as the pair posed together before heading inside.
Other pictures showed Jack seated alongside his mother and her husband, businessman Andrew Frankel, as they watched the action unfold on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Jack was also photographed speaking with Jill Smoller, the longtime sports agent who has represented several high-profile athletes, including Serena Williams during part of her career.
Brady’s life beyond the NFL
Since stepping away from football, Brady has continued to remain one of the most recognizable figures in American sports.
Although his professional career remains a major part of his public identity, his appearances at sporting events involving his children and other athletes have given fans an opportunity to see another side of the former quarterback.
His Nebraska appearance also highlighted the growing crossover between professional sports and women’s college athletics.
For Murray, meanwhile, the attention surrounding her meeting with Brady comes as she begins another important season with Nebraska.
The 21-year-old remains one of the most recognizable players on the Cornhuskers roster, while the team’s victory over Texas provided a strong start to the season.
Although the brief embrace between Murray and Brady generated plenty of online chatter, the available comments from both sides point to a friendly meeting rooted in their shared Michigan connections and Brady’s support for his daughter’s interest in volleyball.
With Brady continuing to support sports beyond football and Murray preparing for another season with Nebraska, their unexpected courtside encounter has nevertheless become one of the most talked-about moments surrounding the opening weekend of the college volleyball season.