To say Tom Brady’s impact on the game of football has been monumental is an understatement. A winner throughout his entire career, Brady has won 7 Super Bowls while carrying unrivaled statistics and awards. Some of Brady’s accolades include 15 Pro Bowl appearances, 5 Super Bowl MVPs, and a 3-time MVP of the entire league. Brady has the most passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions, games won, and games started of anyone who’s laced up the cleats. It’s safe to say that Brady is the best at what he does. 

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Tom Brady announced his retirement from the NFL on February 1, 2022 in an Instagram post. Brady highlighted that he is “not going to make that competitive commitment anymore.” Brady’s career lasted for 22 years, and he played for just two teams: the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady acknowledged his time in Tampa Bay but did not specifically address his time in New England, “To my Bucs teammates the past two years, I love you guys, and I have loved going to battle with you.”  

Brady was drafted with the 199th pick in the 2000 draft and was thrown into a starting position after Drew Bledsoe, Patriots QB, left with an injury. His late draft position was a chip on his shoulder for which he credits his competitive edge for. He then led the Patriots to a Super Bowl victory over the highly-rated St. Louis (Now Los Angeles) Rams. Next, Brady led the Patriots to consecutive Super Bowl victories in the 2003 and 2004 seasons. It took more time for Brady to get his fourth Super Bowl ring, but he did in 2014. Then just two seasons later, once again in the Super Bowl, Brady led one of the best comebacks in NFL history against the Atlanta Falcons. At one point in the game, they were down by a score of 28-3, which earned the Falcons meme status for their propensity to blow large leads. Brady earned his sixth Super Bowl victory on February 3, 2019, by defeating the Los Angeles Rams in a low-scoring affair. Finally, Brady left New England for Tampa Bay and picked up his seventh Super Bowl win over the up-and-coming superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in a game that reminded everyone that Brady was still the ‘king’ in the NFL. 

Brady’s legacy goes beyond the field as well. He is a daily example of how hard work and dedication can help overcome obstacles. As Thomas Tobin ‘23, an NFL fan, said, “Tom Brady’s mental side is what makes him the GOAT.” He was rated as one of the lowest quarterbacks in his draft class and worked extremely hard throughout his entire career to become one of the best athletes in the modern history of sports.