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Athletes, Celebs react to New England Patriots' Super Bowl win

By The Sports Xchange
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (R) gets a kiss from wife Gisele Bundchen after the Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime of Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston Texas on February 5, 2017. The win marks the Patriots fifth Super Bowl title. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
1 of 5 | New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (R) gets a kiss from wife Gisele Bundchen after the Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime of Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston Texas on February 5, 2017. The win marks the Patriots fifth Super Bowl title. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

Patriots' supporters had plenty to say about New England's latest and greatest championship after their team pulled off the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night in Houston.

Tom Brady rallied the Pats from deficits of 21-0 and 28-3 to force overtime and led the game-winning touchdown drive on the first series in overtime to seal the 34-28 win in Super Bowl LI.

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Brady was named the game's MVP and became the first quarterback in history to win five Super Bowls and the first four-time Super Bowl MVP. Patriots coach Bill Belichick also became the first coach to win five titles.

Brady's supporters were quick to sing his praises in the aftermath.

"That should shut up all the doubters about who the greatest QB of all time is!! Congrats to patriot nation #tommieboy!," former Brady teammate and Patriots linebacker Vince Wilfork tweeted.

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Shortly after the Super Bowl went final, the Boston Police department tweeted, "#BostonStrong: When they (the NFL) suspended TB12 for 4 games, they didn't just disrespect the greatest QB of all time, they insulted a region."

Boston mayor Martin Walsh released a congratulatory statement that read, "Congratulations to the greatest team, the greatest coach, and the greatest quarterback of all time for winning their fifth Super Bowl victory in Houston. The Patriots have made Boston and New England proud -- fire up the duck boats!"

Walsh announced that the Patriots' championship parade will be held on Tuesday at 11 a.m. ET.

Brady was 21 of 32 for 234 yards in the fourth quarter and overtime, prompting another one of Boston's premier late-game performers to hone in on the quarterback's success.

Celtics All-Star Isaiah Thomas, who leads the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring, chimed in on Brady's performance, tweeting, "You know what time it is!!! 4th (quarter) killa!!! Damn that was amazing."

Former Celtics star Paul Pierce had a memorable day of his own, but still took time to praise Brady.

Pierce, now with the Los Angeles Clippers, returned to Boston to play his final regular-season game at TD Garden earlier Sunday.

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The 10-time All-Star and 2008 NBA Finals MVP with the Celtics received a raucous ovation when he was introduced as a starter and was honored with a video tribute shortly after he checked out of the game in the first quarter.

He later returned at the demand of Celtics' fans with 19 seconds left and hit a 3-pointer that ignited the Garden crowd.

Pierce predicted after the Clippers' 107-102 loss to the Celtics that Brady and the Patriots would win the Super Bowl by six points.

"We all need to appreciate this greatness in Tom Brady we watching tonight," Pierce tweeted during the Super Bowl.

Later Pierce added, "(Unreal) #12 (you) the best all time."

Kobe Bryant, a longtime nemesis of Pierce and the Celtics with the Los Angeles Lakers, even heaped praise on Brady.

"5 rings can't be deflated #Brady #Muse," said Bryant, who also won five championships during his career. Bryant retired from the NBA after last season.

The Celtics, Bruins and Red Sox also congratulated the Patriots on their Twitter accounts.

"Congratulations, @Patriots! #OneMore," the Bruins' tweet read.

The Celtics issued a tweet with a picture of the team's mascot, Lucky the Leprechaun, dressed in Patriots' blue with the caption "The Boston Celtics Congratulate The Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots."

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Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge tweeted, "I believe in miracles."

The Red Sox referenced their historic comeback from down three games to none to beat the New York Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series en route to a World Series title, tweeting, "You know we like a good comeback. Congrats, @Patriots!!!"

Recently retired Red Sox slugger David Ortiz recorded a video of himself on his Instagram account screaming "Let's go!" and "Yeah" after the Patriots' victory.

Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James, a three-time NBA champ, saluted Brady in a video message on social media website Uninterrupted.

"What an unbelievable comeback, and a major salute to G.O.A.T., Mr. Tom Brady on your fifth championship," James said.

Michigan coach and former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh wrote on Twitter that Brady, a former Wolverine, is "the greatest football player of all time! End of discussion!!!!!"

And the Pats' love fest wouldn't be complete without Patriots-fan-in-chief and President Donald Trump, whose relationship with Brady, Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft is well-documented.

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"What an amazing comeback and win by the Patriots. Tom Brady, Bob Kraft and Coach B are total winners. Wow!" Trump tweeted after the Super Bowl.

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