Tom Brady: The greatest of all time in football?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady led his team to victory at Superbowl LV, adding a seventh ring to his collection, and winning the most Lombardi trophies than any other player in the history of the NFL. CREDIT: PIXABAY

JANAN SHOJA DOOST

Ten Super Bowl appearances, seven Super Bowl rings, and five MVP awards: If these stats aren’t enough to prove that Tom Brady is the greatest of all time (GOAT) when it comes to dominating football, let’s stroll down memory lane to recall his humble beginnings, iconic accomplishments, and keys to success. Brady is made of a different cloth — here’s why.

Growing up in California, Thomas Brady Jr. grew up in a middle-class neighbourhood as the only son in his family, according to Sportscasting.com. From football to baseball, young Brady participated in a variety of sports.

His journey in football was not always smooth, and there were many trials and tribulations, testing his tolerance to the toughness of the game early on. New York Daily News notes that there were even occasions when he would play as quarterback on his high school football team with no touchdowns. There were also times where coaches and family members would encourage Brady to stick to baseball instead.

Given his hard work and dedication, the road to a professional pursuit of sports was wide open. As USA Today reports, even though the Montreal Expos from the MLB baseball league drafted Brady into their team, the young prospect decided to continue his football career with the collegiate football team at the University of Michigan. Even then, despite much success playing college football, he would be drafted as the 199th athlete overall in the 2000 National Football League (NFL) Draft by the New England Patriots.

This critical decision would change Brady’s life, legacy, and the team’s reputation forever. Having stayed with the Patriots for 20 years, Brady’s records and game stats have been like no other quarterbackʼs in the history of the NFL. Stathead Football reports that he has completed the most passes leading to touchdowns, gaining the Patriots six Super Bowl wins, the most thus far in the history of the league. It got to the point where Brady and the Patriots became synonymous.

However, earlier this year, NFL contracts and financial agreements dictated that Brady should be traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and no regrets have come out of that for either party.

At the age of 43, Brady brought his talent and strategies to his new team, leading them to a well-deserved victory at Super Bowl LV and adding a seventh Super Bowl ring to his collection. At this point he has won the most Lombardi trophies out of any other NFL player in the history of football.

As a fan and sports enthusiast, I applaud Brady for his outstanding accomplishments. To me, the key to success has been obvious from his youth — unbreakable work ethic and continuous dedication to ensure mastery of strategy. Brady treats football as one would a diamond: the consistent effort and care that he puts into polishing up his skills and game plan makes his 22 years of professional football expertise invaluable. As a strong leader and quarterback, his competitive spirit and passion for the game also further encourages his teammates to come out on top and shine even brighter.

We’ve got to give credit where credit is due. Considering all aspects of Brady’s life, there is no doubt that he is the GOAT of football. As a veteran of the sport, it would be unsurprising to see more accomplishments in his future.