Matthew Schaefer and Tom Brady (Getty Images)
Matthew Schaefer did not need long to understand what separates Tom Brady from the rest. A brief conversation, no more than ten minutes, left a lasting impression on the New York Islanders rookie, who recently partnered with Brady’s co-owned athletic brand, NOBULL.
For Schaefer, still only 18 and adjusting to life after being drafted first overall in 2025, the exchange felt less like a business introduction and more like a moment of perspective from someone who has mastered longevity and focus.
Matthew Schaefer finds clarity in Tom Brady’s mindset during first conversation
Schaefer recalled the interaction with an ease that suggested it carried genuine meaning. “[Brady’s] awesome,” Schaefer said during an interview with Casino.ca. “I talked to him for probably a solid 5-10 minutes and we were just talking about life and everything.
He was like, ‘Well, I can’t wait to partner with you.’ I’m like, ‘You can’t wait? I can’t wait to partner with you.’”The exchange was simple, but it landed. There was no sense of hierarchy in the conversation, no distance between a seven-time Super Bowl champion and a teenager just beginning his NHL journey. That stood out to Schaefer. “It was so cool. Hopefully I’ll get to meet him. He was a great guy.”Moments like that tend to stick with young players, especially those navigating the sudden shift that comes with early success.
Schaefer has already become a central figure in the Islanders’ rebuild, and with that visibility comes attention from brands eager to align with his rise. Still, it was Brady’s approach, not his résumé, that left the deeper mark.Schaefer pointed to something more enduring than accolades. Work ethic. Focus. The quiet consistency behind a global name. “I don’t think I will ever be as busy as him. He’s doing so much, and he’s so focused with NOBULL and stuff like that,” Schaefer told Casino.ca.
“He’s always looking to improve the brand no matter what.”That idea of constant refinement seems to resonate. For Schaefer, it is not just about building a hockey career. It is about understanding how excellence carries across different spaces. Brady’s involvement in NOBULL, alongside co-owner Mike Repole, reflects that same mindset.“[Brady’s] taken so much care of everything he’s done. He’s put so much effort into it, to make it be the best thing possible,” Schaefer said.
“I think Tom and Mike [Repole] are both this: they want to be perfectionists. Nobody will ever be perfect, but they are guys that want to be, that want to give it their all each and every day.”He paused, then summed it up in a way that felt both simple and telling. “They want to make this the best brand name and apparel company there is.”For a young player still shaping his path, the takeaway is clear. Talent may open doors, but habits decide how long they stay open.
