News broke out this week that NFL legend Tom Brady has announced on social media that he will be retiring from the sports he dominated for so long. The seven-time Super Bowl winner will step away from the NFL after a long and successful career lasting 23 years.
In this blog, we will relive some of the best achievements in Tom Brady’s career and trace back to his beginnings, when he was undervalued in the 2000 NFL Draft. Check out the LV BET Sports Blog for more information about NFL, this year’s Super Bowl and much more.
Elite mentality
To become the best in the sport, one has to push aside other priorities in life and just focus on getting into the right physical form and headspace to achieve your goals. That is something that Tom Brady has done impeccably well during his 23-year career in the NFL. In the 2000 NFL Draft, there were 198 players – six of them quarterbacks – selected before Brady, and ultimately the New England Patriots picked him. The Patriots owner, Robert Kraft, later recalled that Tom Brady introduced himself by saying: ‘’I’m Tom Brady, and I’m the best decision this organisation ever made.’’
The 23-year-old at the time was full of confidence, and why wouldn’t he be? An athlete has to always back himself up to be up to the task of being the best. Tom Brady started as the fourth-choice quarterback and worked his way up. In 2001, Drew Bledsoe was injured, so Brady took over and barely looked back. He would go on to claim seven Super Bowl titles, three NFL MVP awards, and nearly every significant quarterback record in league history. His achievements resonate with the feeling that he brought with him when he first came through to New England Patriot’s door.
Bill Belichick, the coach with whom Tom Brady won six titles in New England, stated, “I think I’ve been on the record dozens of times saying there’s no quarterback I’d rather have than Tom Brady, and I still feel that way’’, in an interview in 2021.
Best Seasons
Two of the best seasons for the Patriots as well as for the quarterback himself, were the yeas 2003 and 2004 when he won back-to-back Super Bowls.
Brady led the Patriots to 12 consecutive victories to finish the regular season at 14-2 and win the AFC East. After earning a first-round bye, the Patriots overcame the challenge from The Tennessee Titans in the Divisional Round, 17-14. In the AFC Championship Game, they defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 24-14, sealing their spot in the Super Bowl XXXVIII. This game showed what a great talent Tom Brady really is, and the Patriots won 32-29 – Brady threw for 354 yards with three touchdowns and set the record for most completions by a quarterbackin a Super Bowl with 32. With almost a minute on the clock remaining, the score was tied at 29 – 29, Brady led a drive with five completions to put the patriots in position for the game-winning 41-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri. Tom Brady was also named the Super Bowl MVP for the second time in his career.
The following year, Brady helped the Patriots set an NFL record with 21 straight wins dating from the previous year. New England managed to replicate their form the previous season with 14-2 in the regular season. The Patriots also won the AFC East title for the third time in four years. In the playoffs, Brady led the Patriots to wins over the Indianapolis Colts once again and Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship. Against the NFL’’s best defence, he recorded a quarterback passer rating of 130.5, his highest of the season. In Super Bowl XXXIX, the Patriots squeezed through to get the victory over Philadelphia Eagles by 24 -21. The 2004 New England Patriots remain the last NFL team to win a second straight Super Bowl. Brady threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns in the memorable victory.
Life away from NFL
This will be the second time Tom Brady has retired from the sport, the first time being a year ago. During this ‘extra’ year that he stayed in the sport we were able to see that his abilities started to diminish, so a man of his drive and hunger to win naturally wanted to stop if he was not at the peak of his game.
Brady is now likely to concentrate on his lucrative off-field interests. He owns fashion and wellness business and last year signed a 10-year broadcasting deal with Fox Sports. The New York Post reported the deal is worth around $375m, surpassing the $332m Brady earned in salary during his NFL career. He will surely be one to remember as quarterbacks try and emulate his exploits with New England Patriots. He will undoubtedly be a role model for many players in the future and will be remembered as the best NFL quarterback.