Latest News on Tom Brady’s Retirement: Live Updates

The 30 N.F.L. franchises not named the New England Patriots or Tampa Bay Buccaneers were forced to deal with Tom Brady for two decades, often experiencing a heartbreaking loss or two (or more) in the process. So when Brady announced his retirement Tuesday, those teams and their fans expressed admiration that was often laced with hints of sarcastic joy.

The Indianapolis Colts, who had many battles with the Patriots atop the A.F.C. during Brady’s rivalry with Peyton Manning, posted a meme from the cartoon “SpongeBob SquarePants,” with the character Squidward celebrating happily behind closed doors after telling SpongeBob, “Good luck somewhere else! I’m gonna miss you.”

The Jets, divisional rivals to the Patriots who have often finished poorly in the A.F.C. East, posted on Twitter: “This better be real.” That was a nod to the confusion last weekend after Brady’s agent and father disputed a report from ESPN that the quarterback had made up his mind to retire.

Even recent victors had their fun. The Buccaneers lost to the Los Angeles Rams, 30-27, in the divisional round of the playoffs, falling just short after Brady again surmounted a double-digit deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter. A 55-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans over cornerback Jalen Ramsey turned out to be the last score of Brady’s career, something Ramsey will not forget.

More serious tributes poured in, too. Manning, who could not escape Brady and played against him when he later joined the Denver Broncos, congratulated him. Brady faced Manning 17 times and won 11 of those games.

“It was an honor and a privilege to compete against him on the field,” Manning said in a statement. “And I truly appreciate his friendship off the field.”

Russell Wilson, the Seahawks quarterback, also posted a congratulatory message to Brady on Twitter.

One the most memorable postseason moments in recent years was when Brady’s Patriots beat Wilson’s Seahawks in the Super Bowl that capped the 2014 season. Malcolm Butler intercepted a pass from Wilson at the goal line on the last play of the game, sealing the win for the Patriots and giving Brady his fourth Super Bowl win.

Eli Manning, who as quarterback of the Giants won two Super Bowls against Brady and the Patriots, softly noted their history at the end of a sincere congratulatory video posted on Twitter.

“Appreciate your generosity in at least sharing a few of those Super Bowls with me,” Eli Manning said. “All the best, pal.”