Tom Brady leaves fans stunned with incredible revelation about the evolution of his autograph
Tom Brady might not seem like a man of mystery but it turns out the iconic quarterback has been hiding a secret message from fans.
Supporters far and wide will have sought the seven-time Super Bowl winners autograph, whether that's at the stadium - or on trading cards.
Every year, NFL fans who take part in 'The Hobby' hope to pull rare Brady signed cards.
And at the Fanatics Fest event in New York, Brady, a close friend of founder and CEO Michael Rubin, chatted away with fans and collectors.
On one such occasion, the New England Patriots legend discussed the evolution of his autograph across his career.
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And one revelation left two super-collectors stunned with a fact they had never heard before.
Taking a look at an older trading card from his career, Brady said: "That's definitely an original signature.
"I signed it two different ways [across my career]. That's how my dad signed his name so I always tried to copy how he did it but then I realised I should have kind of more of an autograph and a signature.
"That (the original signature) is how I sign my cheques - not that we really sign cheques that much any more."
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Moving onto the way he currently signs, he added: "I don't know what year I changed.
"I started to make the B, I don't know if you can see it, the B was a 1 and a 2."
A stunned collector, said: "I never knew that. No matter how many autographed cards of yours I've owned, I've never known that."
Brady wasn't the only NFL legend in attendance in New York.
His New England Patriots teammate Rob Gronkowski was also at the event and delighted fans.
He even performed his trademark spike on one of his own cards, breaking its protective case.
Gronkowski joked he was furious that Brady cards were selling for more than his.
In a bid to make that piece of memorabilia more valuable he spiked it down and then signed the freed card, insisting it would now be worth $20,000, compared to a Brady card worth $15,000.
And the assembled crowd lapped up every minute of it.
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Brady, meanwhile, is set to embark on a new broadcasting career when the new NFL season kicks off on September 5.
He will be Fox Sports' lead football analyst having landed a 10-year, $375million contract.