Tom Brady has been the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots since the time he
replaced the injured Drew Bledsoe in a week two matchup against the New York Jets in 2001.
From that day forward the sixth-round pick from Michigan would go on to make his case for the
greatest NFL quarterback of all time. Throughout his career, Brady has won five of the eight
Super Bowls he has played in. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl 14 times, has three time
NFL MVP awards and is the 2009 Comeback Player of the Year award winner. Tom Brady
holds many NFL records including most games won by a quarterback, most Super Bowl wins by
a quarterback, most Super Bowl MVPs and most Super Bowl appearances. Brady has not only
had success in the regular season, but he has also dominated in the playoffs. The 41-year-old
Brady gets ready to compete in his ninth Super Bowl against the Los Angeles Rams, the same
franchise the Patriots played in Super Bowl XXXV and defeated 20-17.
In the 2000 NFL draft, Tom Brady was selected with the 199 th pick by the New England Patriots.
In his rookie season Brady was stuck behind Drew Bledsoe, the Patriots starting quarterback.
Bledsoe got hit and injured early in the 2001 season in a week two matchup with the Jets, and
Tom Brady led the Patriots to the playoffs for the first time in two years. After the famous Tuck
Rule Game against the Oakland Raiders in the divisional round, the Patriots defeated the
Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC championship and advanced to Super Bowl XXXVI to face off
against the then St. Louis Rams. With a tied score and the last possession, Brady drove all the
way down to the 30-yard line to set up kicker Adam Vinatieri for an iconic game-winning field
goal and the Patriots secured their first Vince Lomardi Trophy.
The Patriots did not make the playoffs in 2002 but proceeded to return to Super Bowl XXXVIII
in 2003 to face off against the Carolina Panthers. Ironically this game had a familiar ending; a
clutch Tom Brady drive and Adam Vinatieri game-winning field goal. The Patriots went back-to-
back, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX. The Patriots had become a
dynasty after winning three out of four Super Bowls from 2001-2004.
The Patriots did make the playoffs in both 2005 and 2006 but were unable to return to the Super
Bowl. In 2007, behind the stellar play of the league MVP, Brady, the Patriots went 16-0, cruising
through the AFC playoffs and making it back to the Super Bowl to take on the New York Giants.
The Patriots were heavily favored to win, but the Giants pulled off the upset to ruin the Patriots
perfect season. Looking to bounce back in 2008, Brady sustained a season-ending knee injury in
the first game of the season, and the Patriots missed the playoffs despite an 11-5 record. Brady
returned with a vengeance in 2009 as he returned to form and won the 2009 Comeback Player of
the Year.
The Patriots didn’t get back to the Super Bowl until the 2011 season, where they were defeated
21-17 by the Giants. The 2014 AFC championship game between the Patriots and the Colts was
very relevant in the news, with many people questioning the air pressure in the footballs that the
Patriots used in that game. This was infamously known as “Deflategate.” The Patriots ended up
winning Super Bowl XLIX, but the Patriots and Tom Brady were under investigation for this
matter. Brady was later suspended and had to sit out the first four games of the 2016 season after
a series of appeals.
When Brady returned from his suspension, he was hungry for his fifth Super Bowl ring and
sought revenge on NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Brady and the Patriots made it to Super
Bowl LI, where they faced the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons controlled the game heading into
halftime, but Brady made some unbelievable throws in the second half and helped the Patriots to
tie the game and send it to overtime. Similar to Brady’s first two Super Bowls, he drove the
Patriots deep into their opponent’s territory. Brady handed the ball to Patriots running back
James White, who scored the game-winning touchdown to help Brady capture his fifth Super
Bowl title. This game is regarded as one of the most improbable comebacks in the history of
sports.
Although Tom Brady lost in Super Bowl LII last year against the Philadelphia Eagles, he is still
playing at such a high level as he looks to capture championship number six in the upcoming
Super Bowl LIII against the Rams. Many fans strongly dislike Tom Brady and the New England
Patriots dynasty, including myself. I just can’t stand seeing his team win and making it to the
Super Bowl. I came to the realization that the 41-year-old Brady is in the best shape of his life
and is still playing at a ridiculously high rate for someone his age, making him the greatest player
of all time in my book. From being overlooked in the draft to winning five Super Bowls, Brady’s
greatness should be more appreciated and not taken for granted. No matter what the outcome is
in Sunday’s Super Bowl, Brady will remain as the G.O.A.T. in the NFL.