Tom Brady: Legendary quarterback’s NFL records after retiring
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Tom Brady’s professional football career may have ended Tuesday, but his days of monopolizing the NFL record books aren’t over.
The 44-year-old retiree has records for Super Bowl wins (seven) and appearances (10), not to mention at least 10 other major honors. He retired last year, took a U-turn, but now he’s saying goodbye forever.
His 23rd and final year was tough on and off the court, but he passed for 4,694 yards and 25 touchdowns as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ playoff run ended in the wild-card round.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after beating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium.
Brady suffered the first losing season of his 23-year NFL career as his Bucs team fell to an 8-9 record.
Off the field, he finalized a highly publicized divorce from his now ex-wife and supermodel Giselle Bundchen.
It’s tempting to imagine what Brady’s career highs would be if he hadn’t spent a year as a backup.
The California native took a circuitous route to NFL stardom with the New England Patriots and ultimately the Bucs.
Famously taken in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft after his beloved San Francisco 49ers took Hofstra’s forgettable quarterback Giovanni Carmazzi in the third, Brady spent a year as a backup to four-time Pro Bowler from New England, Drew Bledsoe.
But beginning in September 2001, when Bledsoe was injured by a tackle by New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis, Brady took firm control of the starting job, not relinquishing it for 20 years.
The University of Michigan product guided New England to an 11-4 record over the remainder of the season, winning the infamous ‘tuck rule’ game against the Oakland Raiders in the playoffs and defeating the heavily favored St Louis Rams at the Super Bowl. .
Brady led the Patriots to back-to-back Super Bowl titles after the 2003-04 seasons. No team has repeated since then as champion.
But New England would not win another for a decade, losing twice to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl, including a 17-14 loss on February 3, 2008, which prevented the Patriots from completing a perfect season.
Brady, however, was far from over.
He earned his fourth ring after the 2014 season thanks to cornerback Malcolm Butler’s late interception of Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson in Super Bowl XLIX. Brady was named the game’s MVP, but gave the truck he won as part of the honor to Butler.
Two years later, in the biggest Super Bowl comeback, he led the Patriots from a 28-3 third-quarter deficit against Atlanta to win in overtime for No. 5. Brady earned his sixth championship when New England beat the Rams after the 2018 season
Tom Brady pictured after the Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII in 2019
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady holds up the Vince Lombardi trophy after his team defeated the Atlanta Falcons to win Super Bowl LI in Houston.
Perhaps most notably, Brady won his first 10 playoff games, before suffering a 2006 loss to the Denver Broncos in the divisional round.
He joined the Buccaneers in 2020 in the midst of a pandemic, instantly transforming a franchise that hadn’t won a playoff game in 18 years.
His friend Rob Gronkowski came out of retirement to join him and they helped the Buccaneers become the first team to play a Super Bowl in their stadium.
Brady made the playoffs 20 times, won 10 division titles and went 7-3 in Super Bowls.
After starting his first game on September 30, 2001, Brady was under center in every game except when he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 in 2008 and the first four games in 2016. when it was not suspended due to deflating. soccer ball scandal
The team was fined $1 million and discounted a first-round draft pick for the incident.
However, academics have insisted that the NFL was unable to prove its case against Brady, who actually may have been exonerated by the league data.
“I am convinced that the Patriots footballs in the 2015 AFC Championship Game were not illegally deflated,” wrote MIT professor of mechanical engineering and Philadelphia Eagles fan Dr. John L. Leonard. , for Sports Illustrated in 2016.
Known for his work ethic, intense exercise regimen, and strict diet, Brady just got better with age.
After his 37th birthday, Brady won four Super Bowls.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski, left, and quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrate after the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Tampa.