Tom Brady: From Backup To Seven-Time Super Bowl Winner

For as long as American football fans remember, Tom Brady has been the sport's defining image. He has broken records left and right and brought home a record-breaking seven Super Bowl rings. Six of them during his 20 years with the New England Patriots, and received the most recent one while playing for the Buccaneers.

Throughout his career, Brady has received cult-like devotion from admirers and utter contempt from fans of rival teams. Still, no matter everyone's opinion of Tom Brady, there can be no denying that the man is truly football's GOAT (greatest of all time). Nevertheless, the fact that Brady was selected in the second-to-last round of the draft is evidence that he was not always destined for greatness. Some believe this "snub" was why he succeeded in the NFL. Some of the descriptions included in Brady's draft report are skinny, poor build, lack of great physical stature and strength, and a really strong arm. These criticisms that he received from talent scouts fueled the fire and the need to win and prove everyone wrong.

How Did Tom Brady Achieve Greatness?

It's easy to see why clubs were hesitant to choose him after reading that description. Yet, Brady possessed a quality that could not be reduced to statistics. He was very motivated to succeed and grow. Nothing could match his level of commitment. The GOAT didn't rely on freakish physical skills but chose to improve his decision-making, football intelligence, and accuracy to dominate the field.

Brady paid meticulous attention to every aspect of the game and worked tirelessly to develop his skills. As he wasn't the most physically gifted player, as pointed out by talent scouts, therefore he put in extra effort to improve in other areas. To aspire for greatness in anything requires the same kind of dedication as Brady, and his success proves this. He achieved results because he had the burning desire to excel at all costs.

One thing's for sure; Tom Brady is a team player. While he deserves to be paid like the GOAT quarterback, he has never been. Brady certainly isn't broke, he's still one of the highest-paid NFL players, but the deals he's made with the Patriots over the years have been far below market rate. This choice helped Bill Belichick, his longtime coach, to better distribute the team's wage limit and keep them competitive.

The Deflategate Scandal and Brady's "Comeback"

The 2016–17 season has to be one of the most eventful in Brady's 22 years in the NFL, even more so than his nearly perfect 2008 campaign. One of the "events" that took place was Brady's four-game suspension for his role in the "Deflategate" controversy, which was undeniably the lowest point of his career.

Deflategate was a scandal that occurred when Indianapolis Colts players claimed that Brady had instructed the New England Patriots staff to purposefully deflate game balls for the AFC Championship Game. Of course, the outcome was a media frenzy in which the reputations of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were tarnished. The case ultimately reached the U.S. Court of Appeals, far beyond the realm of professional sports. The incident and investigation that followed became collectively referred to as "Deflategate."

Nevertheless, their victory at the AFC Championship Game helped Brady and the Patriots advance to the Super Bowl, which they went on to win. After missing the first four games, Brady returned, but he and his team performed poorly at the beginning of the season. Still, the season ended on a high note, with the quarterback guiding the Patriots to another Super Bowl and orchestrating the greatest comeback in the history of the NFL. 

Doing Things on His Own Terms

In retrospect, it makes perfect sense that Tom Brady would go out on his own terms. He said in 2014 that as soon as he notices he "sucks at the game," he will retire. Yet, he chose to say goodbye to football when still at his peak after leading the Buccaneers to the Super Bowl.

The timing of Brady's announcement that he will retire after 22 seasons may be more impressive than any of his accomplishments. It's not that ailments or old age robbed his greatness, or his play has decreased as he neared 45, that has led to his retirement. No, the quarterback is not coming back because he suddenly realized in his forties there is a life beyond football. Since his three kids are growing up fast, he has decided to leave the game to spend more time with his family.

Then, two months after the bombshell the NFL icon dropped to the media, he released another surprising news, much to the delight of his fans. Tom Brady is "un-retiring"— he is coming back to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for his 23rd season in the NFL. Brady claimed to have "unfinished business" when he announced his return in March  2022.

Tom Brady has cemented his status as the NFL's GOAT quarterback. His stats on paper are incredible, and he never stopped working, even after realizing his goal of a Super Bowl victory. He went from being called names like "bench warmer" and "underdog" to "winner" and "the GOAT."

What was his secret? It's simple—sheer determination, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to learning. Indeed, there is something in Tom Brady's story for everyone, proving the famous adage that "slow and steady wins the race."