Tom Brady: 10 Reasons He Will End His Career As The Best QB In NFL History
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has been considered one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL since he took over for Drew Bledsoe in 2001. The former Michigan Wolverine has proven himself time and time again, year after year, to be amongst the best passers of his generation.
But, as with all superstars, Brady is inevitably compared to those quarterbacks considered to be the best ever. Manning, Brees, Elway, Favre, Marino, Montana, Young, Starr. Here are 10 reasons why, at the end of the day, Brady will be better than them all.
10. His Skill Set
1 of 10
Remember when Brady was drafted in the sixth round by the Patriots out of the University of Michigan?
Neither do I. No one thought much of the Patriots taking Brady in the 2000 NFL Draft, because no one thought all that much of Brady.
While he had the size to play in the NFL, he didn't have the best arm strength, and was viewed as a project at best. The intangibles had been there, evidenced by his play at Michigan, but no on expected this kid to become a viable NFL starter for at least a couple of seasons.
Brady doesn't have a bad arm, but he's not Brett Favre, either. His game is based around his superb decision making and his picture-perfect release. The only quarterback viewed as more cerebral in football history is Peyton Manning, but even that is debatable. Because of this, Brady could be viewed as the best quarterback in the NFL right now, and will be the best ever when he retires.
9. His Pop Culture Status
2 of 10
Tom Brady has had more commercial success than any NFL quarterback since Joe Namath. He's been a spokesmodel for clothes, watches, and anything else you can think of.
He has been a pop culture staple since his second season in the NFL, has always seemed to have more personality than Manning (the only quarterback in his generation whose fame comes close to Brady in popularity, who might also have been a robot for his first five years in the league), and managed to snag a Victoria's Secret model for a wife, while getting another model (Bridget Moynahan) pregnant with his first child.
It's that spark of vitality and pop culture savvy, not seen since the days of Broadway Joe, that will make Brady the NFL's best ever.
8. His Stats
3 of 10
Statistically speaking, Brady has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL since the day he set foot on the field in 2001. He has thrown for fewer than 3,000 yards once in his career (in 2001, when he nearly topped the mark despite starting the season as the team's backup), has thrown fewer than 20 touchdowns once (also in 2001, when he threw 18).
His completion percentage is the ninth best in NFL history, and his 2007 campaign ranks as one of the best seasons in football history. Brady racked up 4,806 yards, fourth best in NFL history, threw a record 50 touchdown passes, and had the second-best single season passer rating (117.2) since the stat was first recorded.
In short, Brady has been one of the NFL's best ever quarterbacks at amassing statistics.
.jpg?w=256 "Cowboys Giants Football")
7. His Receiving Corps
4 of 10
This is one of the most overlooked aspects of Brady's case for GOAT status. Until the Patriots signed Randy Moss before the 2007 season, Brady had a grand total of zero talented receivers to throw the ball to. How do I know this? Look at their stats since leaving New England.
David Givens: In New England: 2,214 yards, 12 touchdowns. After New England: 104 yards, 0 touchdowns.
Deion Branch: In New England: Branch was veiwed as one of the NFL's better receivers, and nearly broke 1,000 yards twice. After New England: Branch has been hit by the injury bug, but hasn't produced at nearly the same level of effectiveness, even when healthy.
Reche Caldwell: In New England: 1 season, 760 yards, 4 touchdowns. Before/after New England: 5 seasons, 1,091 yards, 5 touchdowns.
In other words, each player enjoyed more success with Brady at the helm than they did when they left New England. This tells us that maybe they just weren't all that good to begin with. Brady produced Pro Bowl caliber numbers throwing to scrubs.
6. His Offense
5 of 10
If you haven't been paying attention to the goings on in Foxboro since Brady's arrival, allow me to clue you in: he is the team's offense. They've never had a run game that has been consistent, so team's know Brady's throwing the ball.
But only Manning is a better on-field leader than Brady, who organizes and orchestrates his troops like a general. He calls plays, audibles, reads defenses and makes plays happen. No other quarterback besides Peyton and possibly Drew Brees can do all of those things as well as Brady can.
5. 2007-2009
6 of 10
In 2007, Brady had his best statistical season in the NFL. He set a record for touchdown passes, and nearly eclipsed 5,000 yards. The Patriots went 18-0 before falling to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.
In 2008, the Patriots appeared ready to do it again, when Brady was injured by Kansas City Chiefs safety Bernard Pollard's helmet. The hit tore Brady's ACL, and he was out for the duration of 2008.
Historically, quarterbacks have not had great success returning from injuries like the one Brady sustained. They're unable to deliver the ball with the same force as before, either because the injury sapped some of their strength, or the fact that they're afraid to stand in the pocket and take a hit.
When Brady returned in 2009, what did his stats look like? His 4,398 passing yards were fifth best in the NFL, while his 28 passing touchdowns were sixth-best. So, in short, Brady missed a full season because of catastrophic injury, and came back as though he hadn't missed a beat. Quarterbacks don't do that, but Brady did.
4. His Stats In The Clutch
7 of 10
Brady's reputation hasn't just been built on the numbers he's accrued; it's his ability to perform with the game on the line that has made him one of the NFL's best.
Consider this: in his first eight seasons as the Patriots' starting quarterback, Brady has led 30 fourth quarter comebacks or game winning drives, according to pro-football-reference.com. When you consider the low-grade cow dung Brady was throwing to until 2007, that's pretty darn impressive.
When team's know what's coming, know their secondary is more talented than your receivers, and you still manage to win the game, that makes you a leader. It also makes you one of the best ever.
3. Record Vs. Peyton Manning
8 of 10
Manning is widely considered the favorite for GOAT status from the current generation of starting quarterbacks. But when they've gone head to head, Brady has flat out owned Peyton and the Colts.
In eight games against the Colts in his career, Brady has gone 5-3, thrown for 2,037 yards, and racked up 17 touchdowns. Manning has thrown for 2,264 yards, 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. They seem relatively equal, but that's the regular season.
In the playoffs, Manning's gone 1-2 against Brady and the Patriots, throwing for 814 yards and two touchdowns. He's also thrown six interceptions.
Brady, on the other hand, seldom throws for the yardage that Manning does, but has lost to the Colts just once, and they weren't one-possession victories, either. So Brady has the edge on Manning.
2. Regular Season Record
9 of 10
Brady has been incredibly successful in the regular season, both in terms of stats, which we already discussed, and victories.
In eight seasons, Brady has gone 97-30. His teams have had a winning record in each of his years as starter, and have made the playoffs in seven of them. Simply put, the man wins games, even when his team isn't all that talented.
1. His Postseason Success
10 of 10
As good as he is in the regular season, what sets Tom Brady apart from the pack is his performance in the postseason. Brady has a 14-4 record in the playoffs since becoming New England's starter. He has three Super Bowl rings, which came between 2001 and 2004. He came within one fluky drive of winning a fourth in 2007, when the undefeated Patriots were beaten by David Tyree and Eli Manning.
Brady's postseason success places him in the pantheon of Montana and Aikman, but it's the combination of rings, stats, and supporting cast that will ultimately make him the best of all time.
.jpg?w=480 "Cowboys Giants Football")
.jpg?w=480 "STEELERS-RODGERS")
.jpg?w=600 "SEA Saw Simpson as 3rd Rounder")
.jpg?w=600 "Eagles' Lemon Trade Up Call ☎️")
.png?w=600 "2027 NFL Mock Draft 🔮")
