Tom Brady and Matt Ryan, who will face off in Super Bowl LI, communicate regularly with each other.

"We've kind of kept in touch over the years," Brady said Monday during his weekly interview on WEEI. "I'm always sending him texts over the course of the season and vice versa. I have a lot of respect for Matt. I like him a lot as a person, as a player, as a leader."

Brady said he "always kind of followed [Ryan]" because he played at Boston College, which plays games 20 miles away from Gillette Stadium.

He also noted how the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons practiced against each other in 2010 training camp, which was Ryan's third NFL season.

"I got to see him up close and talk to him quite a bit," Brady said. "Matt is a classy guy and a great quarterback."