Brady didn’t start great. He evolved into greatness.
For football fans in their teens, it’s easy to conclude that Tom Brady has been a great quarterback ever since he took his first NFL snap. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The only reason Brady saw the field in the first place–as TSC’s Matthew Paris reminded us recently–was that New England’s starter, Drew Bledsoe, was injured in a violent hit by New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis. Brady began that year (the 2001 season) as a backup. That was a fitting role for a player selected in the 6th Round of the NFL Draft.
But wait! The Patriots miraculously reached the Super Bowl that season. Brady won his first Super Bowl MVP, too, going 16/27 with 145 yards passing and one touchdown. Most importantly, Brady led the game-winning drive, enabling another legend–Adam Vinatieri–to kick the game-winning field goal.
The Patriots won the Super Bowl three out of the first four seasons Brady started at quarterback. However, before we get carried away with Brady-worship, the truth is that defense was the true MVP of those great Patriot teams. For example, the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI by defeating a St. Louis Rams team that was known as “The Greatest Show on Turf.” The Rams scored early and often–just not against the Pats.
In truth, Tom Brady wasn’t a stat machine during his first four seasons in the league. He averaged about 3,600 yards passing, 28 TDs, and 14 INTs as Bill Belichick’s defense dominated opposing offenses. Don’t get me wrong: those aren’t poor QB stats. But they aren’t the stuff of legends.
Still, though, Brady won Super Bowls, married a supermodel, and landed on the cover of GQ. Adulation and success were his. When other quarterbacks might decide to ride fame and fortune, Brady wouldn’t accept either. And that’s when Tom Brady, the legend, kicked into high gear.
In 2005, TB12 led the NFL in passing yards. Two years later, Randy Moss joined the Pats, and Brady-to-Moss became one of the deadliest combos in the NFL. Brady threw his 50th touchdown pass to Randy Moss. For his part, Moss caught his 23rd touchdown pass on the very same play. That was also the year the Pats ran up the score on every team–until they played the Giants in the Super Bowl, finishing the season 18-1.
But the NFL in those years wasn’t just about Tom Brady. Peyton Manning was gaining ground on Brady as the league’s best QB–perhaps, even, its GOAT. That situation made Brady work harder. Coming off an injury, he was determined to show everybody who was ‘the’ best.
Flash forward to 2009. Brady lit up the stat sheet. He has been in high gear ever since, throwing over 4,000 yards every season except for one, averaging around 36 touchdowns a year, and throwing 11 or fewer interceptions since 2012. Now into his 40s, Brady continues to play at a high level–a record-breaking level. Now, that’s legendary.
Tom Brady’s NFL records include reaching the Super Bowl nine times and winning five. He has been named SB MVP four times. And his accomplishments don’t stop there.
–Most passing yards (regular season and playoffs)
–Most wins by a starting quarterback
–Most passing touchdowns including the postseason
–Most playoff games started
–Most division titles
–Most touchdowns thrown to different receivers
–Most playoff wins
–Most playoff passing touchdowns
–Most yards passing in the postseason
–Most touchdown passes in the Super Bowl
–Most yards thrown in the Super Bowl
–Most passing yards thrown in a single Super Bowl.
Brady is so good that even I had to rethink my thoughts. I was always one who said Peyton did more with less, that he was a coach on the field. I thought John Elway was the total package. I reminded folks that Joe Montana was 4-0 in Super Bowls. I’m convinced that Aaron Rodgers was created in a football laboratory. And, let’s not forget that Dan Marino set records when NFL teams played ‘real’ defense.
Yes, all of those assertions have merit. But I’ve also concluded that Tom Brady is the best quarterback in the Super Bowl Era and, perhaps, of all-time.
But before I get carried away with my version of Brady-worship, let me point out that Brady wouldn’t be my starter in a real-time game of all-time greats. I’d choose from among Aaron Rodgers, John Elway, and Peyton Manning. Having said that, if I changed the evaluation focus–from picking a one-time starter to picking the QB who had the best career–then my answer would be Tom Brady. He’s had longevity, success, and durability. He’s a leader. He has a great arm and a great mind.
Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback in NFL history.
The man has been to the playoffs for all but two seasons. He has played in the AFC championship game a total of 13 times. He has five rings, ready to go for his sixth. And he has played on one team, the best-coached team in football. But in my book, at least, Tom Brady is what makes the Pats so successful. It wouldn’t be that way without him. The Patriots knew that when they sent Jimmy Garoppolo to San Francisco.
Tom Brady just keeps on ticking. And here he is again, ready to write yet another chapter in his script of greatness.
