Tom Brady’s Three Decade Reign of Terror Over The NFL

 Tom Brady’s Three Decade Reign of Terror Over The NFL 

  Sunday night millions and millions of people watched what we have seen seven times before a Tom Brady team took home the Lombardi Trophy. It’s the tenth time we watched him on the big stage. We’ve watched Brady in the Superm Bowl more times than we have watched Fast and Furious movies. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in dominating defensive victory in Super Bowl 55. Tom Brady was named the Super Bowl MVP for the fifth time in his luxurious career. Brady also will be bringing home his seventh Super Bowl the most ever for a player and or a franchise. Yeah you heard me Brady has more Super Bowls than any franchise. The Patriots and Steelers have six with the closets. There is no doubt that Brady's dominant run has been nothing short of remarkable. We all have caught ourselves on the side of either cheering for him or against him at points. Some always cheered against him and others for. Then there's the small fraction that started to cheer for him because they were beaten down by Brady. The sun rises and Brady wins the Super Bowl that’s how the world spins round or flat whatever you believe. Anyways we can talk all day about how Brady broke our team’s heart once so that’s exactly what we will do a day after the Super Bowl. We’ll talk about how Brady broke all our hearts but we’ll do it together. Tom Brady’s reign of terror has lasted over the NFL for twenty years and it doesn’t seem to be over. Is he the greatest athlete we have ever seen? 

How Brady got to the NFL 

   Long before Brady was winning Super Bowls like banks count money he was just a normal boy. Brady was the only boy of four children born in San Mateo, California. Brady grew up a 49ers fan regularly attending games watching his favorite player Joe Montana play. His inspiration was the long running goat until Brady just ran that over with an eighteen wheeler. Montana went to and won four Super Bowls. Four? Only four only a quarter of a season in the Super Bowl Brady probably remembers his first beer. We can blame Tony Graziani for teaching Brady how to throw a football back at his hometown’s football camp. Graziani started a problem no one really has been able to solve. Brady wasn’t a starter on an 0-8 JV team that didn’t score a touchdown all year. When the starting quarterback got hurt he stepped in wouldn’t be his last time doing this. He became the staring varsity quarterback his junior and senior year. Recruiting for college football back in Brady’s time was much different than it is today. Brady sent his highlights to high level programs who were impressed. In today standards he’d be looked at as a four star recruit. Brady’s decision came down to five schools “Cal–Berkeley, UCLA, USC, Michigan, and Illinois” according to his father in the Bleacher report article “The College Recruitment of Tom Brady” however there was a thing. Tommy terrific was very terrific at baseball. He was looked at his high school with great power from a left handed bat who played catcher. He was drafted in the 18th round by the Montreal Expos in 1995. He obviously decline or we wouldn’t be telling you about how he’s the goat of football. Brady decides to go to Michigan University. 

 

  Tom Brady starts his new journey to goatness in 1995 at the University of Michigan. He was not the starter for the first two seasons. He watched Brian Griese lead the Wolverines to an unbeaten season in 1997, they would also go on to win a Rose Bowl, and a share of a National Championship. Tommy boy was the seventh man on the roster when he started at Michigan. He hired a sports psychologist to help him deal with anxiety and frustration about not getting playing time. He would have to win the starting quarterback job in his junior and senior season which of course he did. Brady would go 20-5 at Michigan, with a win in the Citrus Bowl and Orange Bowl. He threw over 2,000 yards in his two seasons as the starter, a 30-16 touchdown to interception ratio, completing 61% of his passes in both seasons, and ended with a 134.9 quarterback rating. Brady was good but didn’t seem to be anything special. He entered the 2000 NFL Draft where it all begins. Now we know the story from here. 198 picks go by until the Patriots give what become the greatest draft pick not just for the Patriots but the greatest pick ever. The New England Patriots select quarterback Tom Brady Michigan University with the 199th overall pick. The Tom Brady reign of terror is starting to be brewed and no one even saw it coming. 

Getting Warmed Up: Three in Four Years 

   Patriots Owner Robert Kraft the moment when he first met Tom Brady he remembers meeting and Brady telling him Kraft. 'I'm the best decision this organization has ever made.” According to the CBS Boston Local. Indeed he was the greatest decision the Patriots ever made. Before Brady the Patriots went to a Super Bowl in 1996 under Bill Parcells but their was no rich franchise history. Tom Brady started his rookie season as the fourth string. The Patriots felt as if they had a stable quarterback with Drew Bledsoe but knew he was time was over soon. Brady worked his way to be the second string but whoever got no real playing time only going 1-3 on passes for the season. His second season in the NFL Brady would finally get his chance. In the second game of the season Drew Bledsoe suffered internal bleeding from a hit by Jets linebacker Mo Lewis. It was Brady’s time to step in and the reign of terror begins. The Patriots would lose the game making them 0-2 but Brady was named the Week 3 starter. They beat the Colts 44-13 where he posted a 79 QB Rating. The Patriots went on a run immediately Brady’s entry at quarterback. The Patriots won 11 out of 14 games, six straight to end the season, to do what he did the rest of his career win the AFC East and earn a first round bye. Brady earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl in his first year starting as he posted 2,843 passing yards and 18 touchdowns. The Patriots would comeback to win Brady’s first playoff game down by ten at the half. Brady threw for 312 yards and his first little yellow birdie helped him out. This is the famous Tuck Rule game. The Patriots win in overtime off the famous blizzard field goal by Adam Vinatieri. The Patriots then go on to upset the Steelers in the AFC Conference game 24-17. Where Bledsoe actually came in the game for Brady when Brady injured his knee. The Patriots were going against the greatest show on turf in the St Louis Rams in the Super Bowl. Opening sports bets had the Patriots as fourteen point underdogs. As we know that was a big loss for Vegas. In his first Super Bowl in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans was against one of the most high powered offense with the Rams. New England defense played great. However the team would let a 17-3 lead go with the Rams tying the game with 1:30 left in the game. Brady get the ball at his own 17. Many thought they should kneel it and try to win in overtime. Well Brady became Brady. He drives his team all the way down to the Rams 31. Vinatieri does what he does best and banks in a game winning field goal giving Brady his first Super Bowl. Tommy terrific win his first Super Bowl MVP with 145 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and no interceptions. He was the youngest Super Bowl MVP beating out Joe Namath and Joe Montana by about one year. Bledsoe was traded following the Super Bowl season to make Brady the official starter. Brady’s first was absolute underdog story. One of the only times we can say that about the Patriots. So in Brady’s first championship he didn’t have the best team, he didn’t get first team reps in training camp, he was the underdog, and no matter how tough it got Brady’s team pulled through. To be the greatest you usually have to win one you weren’t suppose too. 

   In Brady’s second year maybe the only time ever Brady couldn’t live up to the pressure. The Patriots went 9-7 lost on tiebreakers to the Jets for the division, and the same goes for the wildcard as the Browns got the last spot. Yeah you read that right there was a time the Browns got in over Brady. In his second starting season Brady posted a career-low single-season passer rating of 85.7, a career high with fourteen interceptions, but did have twenty eight passing touchdowns which led the league. New England started off slow again in the 2003 season being 2-2. Brady does what does best and figures it out with his head coach Bill Belichick. The Patriots win the final twelve games finishing 14-2 and winning the AFC East. Brady finished third in MVP voting while posting 3,620 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. New England earned a first round bye. They beat the Titians 17-14 in the divisional round, and beat Peyton Manning’s Colts 24-14 in the AFC Championship game. So Brady beat the two quarterbacks that were ahead of him in the MVP typical. You win the trophy Brady wins the championship seems like the story of Brady’s career a lot of the time. Carolina Panthers were Brady’s second matchup. This game had a lot more scoring than the first one but what happens when you shootout with Brady? You lose that’s exactly what happened to the Panthers. New England wins their second Super Bowl in three years with a 32-29 win over the Panthers. Brady wins his second Super Bowl MVP trophy in his second bowl while throwing for 354 yards, with three touchdowns, and set the record for most completions by a quarterback in a Super Bowl with 32. What was most remarkable is Brady put his team on his back again. With 1:08 left in the game the Panthers tied the game. Tommy perfect was perfect going 5/5 on passes setting up a 41 yard game winning field goal by Adam Vinatieri. Brady guides them there Vinatieri brings them home. Seems to be the same story for a little bit there. The man now has two Super Bowls that’s double Dan Marino he’s only 26. He has lead his team in big playoff games and Super Bowl down the field multiple times. Brady the great is born.

  Now in the third Super Bowl run the Patriots put together maybe one of the best rosters ever in 2004. New England put together another 14-2 season marking the most wins in a row with 21 not including the playoff games. They do date it back last season but they take away three to make it 18. Tom Brady had another amazing year cashing in his second Super Bowl. The goat had a season with 3,692 passing yards and 28 touchdowns, with a 92.6 passer rating. Brady would run into his “rival” Peyton Manning and the Colts again in the Divisional Round. Really not much of rivalry up to this point as the Patriots are 3-0 against Manning’s Colts. Brady would win again in dominating fashion 20-3. New England then welcomed the Steelers best defense in the league into town. This is Brady’s “flu game” he came into the game with a 103 temperature against the league’s best defense. Did not matter Brady put up a 130.5 QBR which would be his highest of the season. The man plays big when you need him to it seems like every time. The Patriots would win the AFC Championship 41-27. In the third Super Bowl in four years the Patriots would go up against the Eagles led by all time great Terrell Owens and head coach Andy Reid. Pretty sure just saw Brady beat Reid. Yeah that’s another legend held down by the great Brady. The Patriots won 24-21 with Brady throwing 236 yards and two touchdowns. The Patriots became the first team since the Cowboys to win three Super Bowl in four years. In reality Brady is already a legend up to this point. He’s only 27 he has three Super Bowl titles, overcame adversity in many playoffs, he was the guy that pushed them through many battles with his play at the end of the game, and now is going into the prime of his career. However the goat runs into a long drought in the Super Bowl department which couldn’t be expected. From 28 to 36 Brady didn’t win one Super Bowl.

The Struggle To Get Back 

  Yes it’s true and hard to believe but Brady did not win a Super Bowl from 28-36. He came close a couple times but never could get through. In 2005 the Patriots went 10-6 with Brady throwing for 4,110 passing yards and third in the league with 26 touchdowns. New England won another AFC East division title. They would go on to lose in the divisional round ending their two year run as Super Bowl champions. Apparently Brady was playing with a sports hernia throughout the season since December. In the 2006 season the Patriots improved to a 12-4 record Brady threw up another 3,000 yard season but was not selected to a Pro Bowl first team but he was an alternate. In the 2006 playoffs Brady led his team to a game winning field goal in the Divisional game against the Chargers. Who were the Super Bowl favorite and were playing at home. Brady’s first playoff game in his home state of California. New England met the Colts in the AFC Championship game. Marking the third time the Patriots played the Colts in four postseasons. Brady’s Patriots would blow a 21-6 halftime lead to Peyton Manning’s Colts. They would go on to lose 38-34. A heartbreaking loss to their AFC rival Colts. Then came the famous 2007 season. Where the Patriots dominated the competition going 16-0 in the regular season . Brady threw for 4,806 passing yards, 50 touchdown passes, and eight interceptions. It was unanimously voted the greatest passing season of all time by ESPN in 2013. His 50:8 touchdown interception ratio at the time was the best ever. He posted a 117.2 QB which is the fifth highest ever. While also leading his team to the first 16-0 season, and posted 589 points and 75 total touchdowns. The 50 total touchdown is the fifth most ever. Brady would be named a Pro Bowler, first team All Pro, AP Male Athlete of the Year, NFL offensive player of the year, and the MVP. That would mark Brady’s first MVP. In the playoffs since the Patriots earned a bye round they played the Jaguars at home. Brady had maybe one of the best playoff performances ever going 26 for 28 on pass attempts. That’s a completion percentage of 92.9% that was the highest of all time for any game with 20 or more pass attempts. The win gave the Patriots their 17th win on the season making them and the 1972 Dolphins as the only team to be 17-0. New England would beat the Chargers 20-12 in the AFC Championship game. That marked Brady’s 100 career win which he did way faster than Joe Montana. His 100-26 record is also better than Montana. Do we really have to tell the story of the 2007 Giants vs Patriots Super Bowl? Let’s tell you a summary. Brady could not get time all day as he was sacked five times. Brady managed to find Randy Moss with less than three minutes left to go to get the lead. Nonetheless the Giants did not care as babyface assassin Eli Manning drove the Giants down the field to score a touchdown to upset the Patriots 17-14. Giving the Patriots 18 wins and one Giants loss. Brady's first loss in a Super Bowl making him 3-1 so close to that Montana four but yet so far. However Brady was not done yet. 

  In 2008 Brady faced the worst setback physicality wise. Brady tore his ACL clean the first game of the season against the Chiefs. He would need surgery making him miss the whole 2008 season. The Patriots would go 11-5 but miss the playoffs behind backup quarterback Matt Cassel. First time New England missed the playoffs since 2002. However they would return back next season even with Brady suffering from multiple injuries throughout the season. Brady fractured three ribs and had a broken right ring finger. He still managed  to throw 4,398 yards passing and 28 touchdowns for a 96.2 rating. He made the Pro Bowl and was named Comeback Player of the Year. The Patriots however came up short in their first home playoff loss in the Brady era against the Ravens in the Wildcard round. In 2010 Brady signed a four year extension that makes him the highest paid NFL player. Which he would restructure multiple times so the Patriots could bring more players in. In 2010 Brady put up a 110 QB rating. At the time that was two of the top five season ratings in NFL history and made him the first player to finish with a rating above 110 in two different seasons. Brady’s Patriots earned a first round bye but were upset by the divisional rival Jets which was one of the most devastating losses of Brady’s career. To the Jets and Rex Ryan man that had to burn. Brady’s playoff success or luck would not get any better. He would lose to the Super Bowl champion or lose in the Super Bowl for the next three seasons. Eli Manning and the Giants would get Brady again by upset in the Super Bowl in 2011. The Patriots would lose to the Ravens in the 2012 playoffs who would go on to win the Super Bowl. Then his good ole pale Peyton Manning took a road trip out west to the Broncos where Brady would lose in the Mile High city in the 2013 AFC Championship game. It seemed as if that Brady’s dominance of the NFL was over. That the first three were more of Bill Belichick than it was him. He did have top 10 defenses in all those Super Bowls. Could that have been the formula? Is Brady a system quarterback? He would silence those critics in the second part of his already Hall of Fame career.

Hold Up You Thought That He Was Finished? 

  Tom Brady was now 36, 3-2 in the Super Bowl still trailing his idol Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw who are the only players with four Super Bowls. It seems that Brady achieving that was almost guaranteed after the third Super Bowl win. He didn’t win for nearly 8 years up to this point. Many were calling him a system quarterback. People were saying Brady was the perfect system quarterback for Bill Belichick’s system. They thought Brady was an above average player. That once he hit 35 his skills were only going downhill. They didn’t know avocado ice cream has something special in the ingredients. Brady puts a million dollars a year in his body. This is when it would show up in the second half of his career. When all his rivals are slowing down Brady is just getting started. 

Tom Brady didn’t start 2014 as he wanted. The Patriots lost to the Dolphins making that the first opening loss for the Patriots since 2003 which is actually insane. They would be alright as at one point during the season the Patriots would go on a seven game winning streak. New England would straighten up and get things together as they would go on to win their NFL record setting 12th consecutive AFC East. Brady would be ranked the third best player in football that season by the NFL Top 100 players. The Patriots would get their revenge against the Ravens in the Divisional round where they would win 35-31. Brady threw for three touchdowns and ran for one which broke Curtis Martin’s Patriots record for rushing touchdowns. He also threw his 46th touchdown breaking Joe Montana’s playoff touchdown record. They clinched a date with their old rival Colts in the AFC Championship game in New England. The Colts were not led by Manning anymore; they had a new sheriff in town with generational talent Andrew Luck. That did not matter to Brady and the boys as they put up 45 to the Colts little 7 points. Clinching Brady’s sixth AFC Championship breaking his tie with John Elway for most wins in the AFC Championship. In Super Bowl XLIX the Patriots would be going up against the Seahawks who were defending champions. We will always wonder what would've happened if Pete Carroll ran that ball with Marshawn Lynch. Nonetheless he didn’t and in the final second at the goal line Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw an interception to Patriots Malcom Butler to get the Patriots back to the mountaintop. Brady went 37-of-50 on passes, he threw for 328 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. The Patriots were down by ten points beginning the fourth quarter but Brady led them down the field two times for two touchdowns to give the Patriots the lead. Tommy terrific always comes through for the boys. The win gave Brady his fourth Super Bowl which would finally tie Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw. He would also win the Super Bowl MVP for his third time also tying Montana for most of all time. Brady would complete 37 passes which was a record for the time until Brady broke it himself two years later. Tom Brady with three Bowls had officially entered the goat talk conversation. 

   If no one can beat Brady off the field be sure they’ll be something off the field trying to take him down. In May of 2015 the NFL put out a 243-page report regarding the deflation of footballs used in the previous season's AFC Championship Game between the Patriots and Colts. Saying that the Patriots were initially deflating the Colts footballs. The league decided to suspend Tom Brady for 4 games. On May 14th the players association appealed the decision. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell upheld the suspension. Where Brady would put out a statement criticizing the decision "I am very disappointed by the NFL's decision to uphold the 4 game suspension against me. I did nothing wrong, and no one in the Patriots organization did either... I will not allow my unfair discipline to become a precedent for other NFL players without a fight." On September 3, Judge Richard M. Berman decided to overturn the decision saying the NFL didn’t bring over proper evidence to suspend a player while taking game checks. That means Brady was not guilty and could play the first four games of the next season. 

 

   With Brady back in the 2015 season being defending champions was a target on his back to begin the day with, now the world thinks he cheated to get there, here come the hits. The Patriots came into the season and beat longtime rival Pittsburgh Steelers 28-21. Marking his 161st win with the Patriots. Tying Brett Favre’s record for wins with one team. Another record for Brady. Brady led his injury filled team to the second seed in the AFC with a 12-4 record while throwing a league-leading 36 touchdown passes and seven interceptions. He was named to his seventh straight Pro Bowl, finished second in the MVP, and ranked second in the NFL’s Top 100 players. Peyton Manning at this point is a shell of himself but Brady continues to produce. The Patriots would beat the Chiefs in the Divisional round 27-20 behind Brady’s 302 yard performance earning them a fifth straight AFC championship game. In the 17th and final meeting between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning the boy from Louisiana would get the last laugh. The Broncos defense smothered Brady all game. Denver was home and won 20-18 on the final play where Brady missed Gronk in the end zone for the final two point conversion. That February New England wasted no time and signed Brady to a two year extension for 2018 and 2019. That would bring Brady into his 40s. Big chance taken by the Patriots to still trust Brady after 40. However in the same offseason the NFL wasn’t over with Deflategate. They appealed Brady’s appeal and won. Brady’s suspension was back on but for 2016. Brady fought for a while but gave up forcing him to miss the first four games of the 2016 season. 

  The Patriots would be just fine without Tom Brady forcing the argument more of he’s a system quarterback. The Patriots were 4-0 in Brady’s return against the Browns. He showed that he brings that offense to another level. He went 28-of-40 on passes for 406 yards and three touchdowns in a 33–13 victory. He was named the AFC Player of the Week. Brady’s numbers through the first month of the season earned him AFC Player of the Month. In a win against the Jets Brady became one of five quarterbacks with 60,000 or more passing yards. With a win over the Broncos the Patriots clinched their eighth straight AFC East title and seventh first round bye setting two more records. In the final week of the season against the Dolphins Brady threw for three touchdowns, and no interceptions in a win. The no interceptions was a big deal because now his TD-INT ratio was 28-2 the best ever. Beating Nick Foles record of 27-2. Then he was named the best player in the NFL’s Top 100 players. Becoming the first player to be named twice as the best player in the league. The Patriots played the number one defense in the Divisional round the Houston Texans. That defense did not matter to Brady as he went 18-of-38 passes for 287 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions as the Patriots won 34–16. Then in the AFC Championship game against the Steelers Brady makes another top five defense look like Swiss cheese. Brady went 32 of 42 on passes for 384 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in the 36–17 victory. That gave Brady and Bill Belichick a seventh conference title which is the most for a coach-player combination. The Patriots also would appear in their ninth Super Bowl which is also a record. Feel like we are breaking a lot of records here. Now the famous Super Bowl the Patriots met the NFC Champions Atlanta Falcons in Houston, Texas to play in the biggest game. As you may know the Falcons were up 28-3 at the half. It really started to look like the Falcons will give Brady his third loss in the Super Bowl. Not so fast however Brady and the Patriots came out and scored 25 unanswered points to tie the game. After winning the coin toss Brady leads his team down the field to score a touchdown and secure his fifth Super Bowl championship the most of all time for a quarterback. Brady showed out with 43 completions on 62 attempts for 466 passing yards which were all Super Bowl records at the time. This would give Brady his fourth Super Bowl MVP giving him the most all time in that category. Brady stole the game from the Falcons like the Mexican journalist stole his jersey after the game. Unlike the Falcons they found the jersey the Falcons will forever have to deal with the 28-3 loss. Which Matt Ryan will think about for the rest of his life. Don’t worry Matty Ice Brady lives in a lot of former players' heads rent free. 

  Nearing the age of forty even with four Super Bowls Brady is still looking to stay at the top of his game. In Week 2 of the 2017 season Brady threw for 447 passing yards and three touchdowns, which got him his 28th AFC Offensive Player of the Week. Which broke Peyton Manning’s record. In Week 5 the Patriots edged out the Buccaneers 19-14 with the win Brady would tie Brett Favre and Peyton Manning for most regular season wins at 186. New England would beat the Jets the next week making Brady the winningest regular season quarterback ever. Against the Dolphins in Week 12 the Patriots won 35-17 behind Brady’s four touchdown performance. That made Brady the first ever quarterback to score four touchdowns above the age of forty. He was also named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month. The Patriots would go on to clinch their eighth straight first round bye and they would include home field advantage in that. Brady led the league in the NFL in passing yards with 4,577 passing yards. He was the oldest player ever to lead the league in passing yards. Brady also became the oldest player to start all 16 regular season games. Then was named first-team All-Pro by AP and got 40 out of 50 votes to win his second straight MVP, his third in his career. Then for the second straight year third overall he was named the best player by the NFL. This is all at 40 years of age. Father Time got nothing on TOM!!!!! New England made quick work of the Titans in the Divisional round and clinched a trip back home to host the Jaguars in the AFC Championship game. Brady would lead yet another comeback against the Jaguars in the fourth quarter to get a 24-20 win. That gave Bill Belichick and Tom Brady their eighth AFC Championship and tenth Super Bowl appearance both extending their own records. Brady and the Patriots traveled to Minnesota to shake it up again with the Eagles. The Eagles were led here by backup Nick Foles after MVP candidate Carson Wentz went down with a torn ACL. A backup quarterback against Brady? Seems like a guaranteed sixth championship for Brady. Sike not so fast big daddy Nick has a little bit of a special for you. Brady played great and threw for 505 yards, with three touchdowns, and no interceptions. The 505 yards is currently an NFL record for passing yards in a Super Bowl. The Eagles led the game with 2 minutes left to go 38-33. It's Brady time at least it usually is. Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham stripped Brady and recovered the fumble for the win. The Eagles would win 41-33 and get their first Super Bowl ever. Even behind Brady’s great performance the Patriots suffered a loss, Brady’s third loss in the Super Bowl. Only three other players have that many losses in the Super Bowl but no one has that many wins. That was his first loss to someone not named Eli Manning. 

  The 2018 season Brady guaranteed he’d be back even at 41 years of age it didn’t look he missed a step. In week 5 in a win over the Colts Brady threw his 500th career pass. Which was caught by Josh Gordon making him the 71st different player to catch a touchdown from Brady, breaking a record previously held by Vinny Testaverde. In week 15 Brady put his name into the record books again. He became the fourth quarterback ever to throw for 70,000 yards. He also rushed for 1,000 yard making him and Brett Favre the only players to have 70,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards. Brady also recorded another 4,000 passing yard season. Philip Rivers did the same making them both the third and fourth player to throw for 4,000 yards ten times or more. The Patriots secured the second seed in the AFC and a bye round. They hosted the Chargers. The Chargers were looked at as the team that would beat the Patriots. That didn’t happen as the Pats jumped out to a 35-7 lead at the half. They would go on to win 41-28 advancing the Patriots to their 8th AFC Championship under Tom Brady. New England would be going to Kansas City to play the red hot Chiefs and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. This wouldn’t be Brady and Mahomes first matchup. The Patriots went up 14-0 early but the Chiefs came back. The game would go to overtime as they were tied 31-31. New England won the coin toss and elected to receive. Brady would lead a 75 yard drive capped off by a two yard touchdown run by Rex Burkhead to send the Patriots to the Super Bowl. That would be the third straight season Brady would be going to the Super Bowl and his ninth overall. In the Super Bowl the Patriots would play the offensive juggernaut of the Los Angeles Rams. They didn’t look too juggernaut in this one. As the Patriots defense would hold them to just three points. The Patriots would only put up thirteen behind Brady’s 21 of 35 passes for 262 passing yards. Nonetheless it was more than enough for Brady to secure his sixth Super Bowl. Brady became the first player to win six Super Bowls which tied the Steelers for most of all time. Then became the oldest quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Father Time is in the battle of his life and it’s with Thomas Brady. 

  At 41 Tom Brady would earn himself a two year extension he wanted more but the Patriots weren’t willing to give him that. More like Bill Belichick wasn’t willing to give him that. Belichick and Brady have built up tension going into the 2019 season. Brady thinks he can play five more years Belichick doesn’t. Belichick tried to replace him with Jimmy Garoppolo. However owner Robert Kraft decided against getting rid of Brady and Belichick had to ship Garoppolo to the 49ers for picks. Then Belichick didn’t give Brady a long term deal he’s not betting on him at all. This tension showed in the 2019 season. 

 In 2019 the Patriots came in with no real threats at receiver, a beat up offensive line, an okay defense, and no real running game. However Brady made it work of course winning games and breaking records. In Week 5 after a 33-7 win over Washington Brady passed Brett Favre for third on the all time passing yards list. Then the next week in a game against the Giants Brady passed Peyton Manning for second in the passing yards list. The Patriots started off 8-0 and Brady was now only behind Drew Brees for career passing yards. Then the Patriots lost three of their next five. In Week 17 Tom Brady threw two more touchdown passes on the season giving him 541 career touchdowns passing Peyton Manning for second of all time. The Patriots were upset by those Dolphins also knocked the Patriots out of the first round bye. For the first time since 2009 they would have to play in a Wildcard round game. The offense struggled throughout the season while the defense played well. According to friends of Brady he once said "(He) felt Belichick had taken the offense for granted because of how good it had been for so long" and once said to NBC “most miserable 8–0 quarterback in the NFL." The tension is only rising between Brady and Belichick. Even with the tension Brady would also be named AP Athlete of the Decade in 2019 which had to lift his spirits. Being the best player for 10 years at your sport is special but for all sports now that’s something really special. The Patriots won their 12th straight AFC East title and would host the Titans in the Wildcard game. The Patriots were trailing 14-13 with less than 2 minutes left to go. Backed up on his own one, Brady steps back and fires an interception to former Logan Ryan who returned it for a touchdown which would seal the Patriots fate and end their season. That ended the Patriots Super Bowl after three straight they were one more away from the Bills record of four. It also was the first time since 2010 the Patriots weren’t in the AFC Championship game ending their own eight straight Championship games in a row. In the offseason the Patriots decided to not bring back Tom Brady ending Brady’s 20 year tenure with the team. For the first time in his Goatee career Tom Brady was a free agent, and at 43 was looking for a new home.

Cherry on top 

   The football world would change, Tom Brady is a free agent. This has never happened before. No one could imagine Tom Brady not playing in New England with Bill Belichick. It feels like Belichick pushed Brady away and egos struck as they have before to kill great dynasties. Just never expected to be part of the Patriots dynasty. On March 20, 2020 the Buccaneers became the winner of the Brady sweepstakes by signing him to a two year deal worth 50 million dollars. Brady requested that the Buccaneers bring in his good pal tight end Rob Gronkowski. Gronk had to come out of retirement and his rights were owned by the Patriots. New England agreed to trade him to the Buccaneers for a third round pick. During a covid year Brady had no OTAs, no real training camp, couldn’t meet with his receivers really because of no contact. It’s hard to get chemistry with your weapons and he has plenty now with Chris Goodwin, Mike Evans, Gronk, Antonio Brown, Ronald Jones II, OJ Howard, and others. Brady and the Buccaneers lost their first game to the Saints 34-23. Tampa Bay would respond with a three game winning streak where Brady seemed to be finding his groove. In the Week 4 win over the Chargers Brady threw for five touchdowns. At 43 that made him the oldest player to throw for five touchdowns in a game. He also earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career. Then the famous loss at the Bears when Brady couldn’t remember what down it was, and he threw up his famous confused four. Father Time continued to be in the biggest battle of its life with Tom Brady. During the month of October Brady threw for 1,157 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, 1 rushing touchdown, and 1 interception from Weeks 4–7) Brady was named NFC Offensive Player of the Month. Against the Saints Brady looked to be losing the battle of the two great quarterbacks. Drew Brees Saints roll Brady’s Buccaneers 38-3. Brady threw three interceptions in the loss. Having the haters say that Brees was always better than Brady. He beat him twice when they both have good teams. However Tampa Bay would respond with a win over divisional rival Carolina Panthers in Week 10. The Buccaneers started to put things together. In Week 16 to continue what would be now a three game winning streak the Buccaneers rolled the Loins 47-7. Giving them their first playoff berth in thirteen years. The game was over at the half. Brady was lighting up the defense he completed 22 out of 27 attempts with 348 passing yards, four touchdowns, and a perfect passer rating of 158.3 in the first half before being rested in the 2nd half. For the first time Brady would be entering the playoffs as a Wildcard. He would be playing a road game in the Wildcard round and no home field in sight. Brady’s Buccaneers would travel up to the northeast against the 7-9 division winner Washington Football Team. Washington made the game fun but in the end the Buccaneers overpowered the Washington Football Team 31-23. Brady went for 381 yards and two touchdowns. The touchdown pass made him the oldest quarterback to throw a touchdown pass in a playoff game. Brady would get another crack at Brees as he guided his ship down to the Bayou of Louisiana to play the Saints on the road in New Orleans. The game was looked at as a game where two of the best quarterbacks to ever play would get one last matchup. Brady and Brees are first and second in career touchdown passes and career passing yards. Both being over 40 this would probably be the last go. Brady didn’t look a day over 35 throwing 199 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for a touchdown. However Brees would struggle, and the Buccaneers would get their revenge with a 30-20 win over the Saints. Brady retired Brees it seems like. In the end the goat always wins. Tom Brady and the Buccaneers would be going to the NFC Championship game. This would be Brady’s fourteenth Conference Championship. Which would double Joe Montana’s seven he is the closest to Brady. Now Brady would travel up the frozen tundra Lambeau Field to play the number one seed Green Bay Packers, and Aaron’s Rodgers. This would be the first playoff matchup for Brady and Rodgers. Brady looked at as the goat and Rodgers looked at as the most talented quarterback ever. Brady didn’t play great; he threw three touchdowns, but also threw three interceptions. Nonetheless the Buccaneers found a way to win with some late flags against the Packers to win 31-26. The Buccaneers would be going to their first Super Bowl since 2002, it’d be Brady’s record extending tenth Super Bowl, and the Buccaneers would be the first team ever to play at their home stadium where the Super Bowl is hosted. 

  In the Super Bowl the fifth seeded Tampa Bay Buccaneers would host the juggernaut Kansas City Chiefs. Led by Andy Reid and young superstar Patrick Mahomes. Reid and Mahomes get a rematch against Brady would eliminate them two years prior in the AFC Championship game. Brady already beat Reid back in his third Super Bowl if you remember way back when. It was time for avenges. Well the thought was nice. The Chiefs were 18-2 in their last twenty games. Tampa Bay looked like a Wildcard team that got hot at the right time. The Buccaneers defensive line smothered Mahomes. Playing cover two the whole game and the front four was just too much for Mahomes. Breaking a Super Bowl record with 29 pressures on the quarterback. Mahomes ran for 497 yards in the backfield. Brady did his thing on the other side of the ball with 201 yards and three touchdowns. He found Gronk for two touchdowns passes which broke a postseason touchdown receptions record for a passer-receiver duo, with 14. Joe Montana and Jerry Rice held the record previously. Brady breaking some more of Montana’s records. Ones you didn’t even know existed. Brady extended some more records with his seventh Super Bowl win the most by a player, and he won the Super Bowl MVP which is his fifth extending that record. He became the first player to win a Super Bowl in two separate conferences, and first to win a Super Bowl MVP with two different teams. He also tied Browns legend Otto Graham with most league championships in professional football history by a player at seven. Then finally Brady became the oldest quarterback in Super Bowl history to start, play, win, and receive the MVP award. Brady showed the world that he didn’t need any system, he is the system. He wins anywhere and doesn’t matter the age he is the greatest we ever seen do it. 

Greatest Athlete Ever? 

  The success Tom Brady has had in his career has made him the unanimous NFL greatest to ever do it. It’s not a question he plays the general on the field he is the most important on his team for the last twenty years. No one is even close to Brady’s winning in the NFL. He has the records and accolades to all go with it. What brings in the question could this immobile, California kid be the greatest athlete we’ve ever seen? He damn well might be. 

  The guy has so many accolades and records, he wins so much he has to be in the conversation. He has more Super Bowls than Michal Jordan six championships. Brady has won seven championships in his sport, Jordan has won six championships. Brady has the most wins in his regular season, Jordan has the winningest regular season ever. As well does Brady with the most wins in the regular season. So the argument that Jordan is a better winner is a joke. Brady always has dominated a sport for twenty years Jordan was barely ten. You benefit longevity. Brady was named the athlete of the decade. He has played in the same decade as Lebron James. He has more wins in championships, but they both lead in major stats. Brady is top two in both passing touchdowns and yards which he will break since he’ll play another season unlike Brees. James will probably lead in scoring and be top five in assists by the end of his career. However Brady has won more. Serena Williams has also been argued. Saying that Williams has almost a hundred more wins than Brady, how is she not better? Well for one she is in a sport with four major championships a year there’s only one Super Bowl. To get to her final it’s 3-4 matches to get to Brady’s there’s OTAs, Training camp, preseason, regular season, 2-3 playoff games. He plays 16-19 games a season. She can play up to 40 matches in a calendar year if she wants because there’s more tournaments than just majors. The 203 ranked male beat Williams in straight sets once in 2003. Foles is the only questionable quarterback Brady’s lost to in a big game. He was one of the best 32 quarterbacks in the world at least. Brady has won more Super Bowls than any franchise ever. He also plays a team game and she is an individual sport. She just has to be good. He needs 21 other individuals to be great. Williams doesn’t even have the most wins in her sport. Brady is by far his sport’s best winner. Williams also has 137 losses Brady has 69. She has more chances to win and lose and it shows. You can make arguments she isn’t the goat in her sport. There is no argument about who is the football goat. She has more than nearly 3x the amount of chances to win a year. The fact he’s even a hundred away is insane. Williams' grip on the sport has loosened; she is 4 years younger than Brady. Brady’s still as strong as ever. Williams is an all time athlete and hates me that you have to nit pick at little things but that’s what happens when you’re deciding the greatest athlete ever. A final argument may be Ronaldo or Messi. Neither has one an international FIFA World Cup championship; they can’t win the big one. It does only happen every four years so one is more valuable than one Super Bowl. Well either has none so Brady is probably the better winner here. They both have stats but that whole winning thing is a big factor to me. In my opinion Tom Brady is the greatest athlete we have seen. Not by the eye test but by the numbers. Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders may have the most talent but Brady is the goat. Kind of like how Rodgers and Mahomes are the most talented quarterbacks we’ve seen play but Brady is the goat.

Conclusion

 The question and my answer have come to the light, yes Tom Brady is the greatest athlete we have seen. It was an amazing journey we had looking through his career. There’s really something else that can be said. We went through all his accolades, all his accomplishments, all his championships to show you the reader that he is the best athlete ever. Enjoy his greatness while it lasts because in my opinion there won’t be another one. 

By Matthew Doherty