Tom Brady is one of the most celebrated and successful NFL quarterbacks to have ever played the game. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2000 and helped the team win 6 NFL Super Bowl trophies. Brady last played as a quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is the only NFL player to have won 7 Super Bowl trophies. He announced his retirement for one final time at the end of the 2022-23 NFL season after 23 seasons in the league.
Tom Brady is truly a legend in the game and the quarterback is returning to the Foxborough Stadium, which was where he became the player he was. Patriots owner Rober Kraft invited Brady back for the opening game of the 2023 NFL season to honor his 20 years with the New England Patriots, and to honor the retirement of the G.O.A.T.
Tom Brady’s Early Life and Background
Born in San Mateo California, Tom Brady was great at both basketball and football in school. After graduating from Junipero Serra High School in 1995, Brady went to the University of Michigan. Brady passed on the opportunity to play professional baseball and went on to play college football. Brady was not a regular on the team (Michigan Wolverines) in his first two years of college but ended his college career with 4773 passing yards and 30 touchdown passes. Brady led the Wolverines to an Orange Bowl victory in his final season with the team.
Tom Brady’s NFL Draft
Tom Brady was picked in round 6 of the 2000 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. Brady was the 199th pick of the Draft. During his draft, Tom Brady was not considered to be a very bright prospect as per the NFL Scouting Combine. Brady was the seventh quarterback selected in the 2000 NFL Draft. Some other players who went on to become NFL stars drafted along with Brady in 2000 include linebacker Brian Urlacher (drafted by the Chicago Bears) and offensive tackle Chris Samuels ( drafted by the Washington Football Team).
Drafted in 2000 by the New England Patriots, Tom Brady is probably the most successful player in the history of the team and NFL itself. During his rookie season with the Patriots, Brady was a backup quarterback and only played one game in the season. Little did people know that Tom Brady would go on to lead the Patriots to a run of 6 Super Bowl wins during his tenure with them.
Amidst trophies and accolades, Tom Brady was also part of a major NFL controversy, the ‘Deflategate’. During the 2014 postseason games, Tom Brady was caught in controversy as the Patriots were accused of tampering with balls (by deflating them) in the AFC Championship match against the Indianapolis Colts. This led to Brady’s suspension from 4 starting regular-season games in the 2016 season.
Tom Brady developed into one of the most potent quarterbacks in the franchise and after 20 seasons with the Patriots, Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he has been playing since 2020. Tom Brady won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers in his debut season and played his last season in the NFL with them in 2022.