Tom Brady facts for kids
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Brady in 2024
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| No. 12 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | August 3, 1977 San Mateo, California, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Junípero Serra (San Mateo, California) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Michigan (1995–1999) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2000 / Round: 6 / Pick: 199 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr. (born August 3, 1977) is an American former professional football quarterback. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for 23 seasons. Many people think he is the greatest quarterback of all time.
Brady spent his first 20 seasons with the New England Patriots. He was a key player in their amazing success from 2001 to 2019. For his last three seasons, he played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After playing college football for the Michigan Wolverines, the Patriots picked Brady 199th overall in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft. This made him known as one of the biggest "draft steals" in NFL history. He became the starting quarterback in his second season. That year, the Patriots won their first Super Bowl title.
Brady led the Patriots to 17 division titles and nine Super Bowl appearances. He won six Super Bowl titles with them. These are all NFL records for a player and a team. In 2020, he joined the Buccaneers and won Super Bowl LV. This brought his total to 10 Super Bowl appearances and seven wins. In 2024, Brady became a lead TV commentator for the NFL on Fox. He also became a part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Brady holds many important quarterback records. These include most career passing yards, completions, and touchdown passes. He also has the most career wins for a quarterback. He is the only Super Bowl MVP for two different teams. Brady was the first player to be chosen as NFL MVP by everyone voting. He is also known for playing successfully for a very long time. He was the oldest NFL MVP at age 40 and the oldest Super Bowl MVP at age 43. Brady is the only NFL quarterback on two all-decade teams (2000s and 2010s). He was also chosen for the 100th Anniversary All-Time Team in 2019.
Early Life and Sports
Brady was born in San Mateo, California, on August 3, 1977. He was the only son and fourth child of Galynn and Thomas Brady Sr. He grew up as a Catholic. His family has roots from Sweden, Norway, Germany, Poland, and Ireland.
When he was a kid, Brady often went to San Francisco 49ers games. He was a big fan of quarterback Joe Montana. Brady has said Montana was his hero and inspired him. At age four, Brady saw the famous "The Catch" play by Joe Montana. As a child, he also went to football camp. There, future NFL quarterback Tony Graziani taught him how to throw.
Brady went to Junípero Serra High School in San Mateo. He graduated in 1995. He played football, basketball, and baseball in high school. He started his football journey as a backup quarterback. He became the main starter in his junior year. By his senior year, he sent highlight tapes to colleges to get noticed. Many football programs became very interested in him.
Brady was also a great baseball player. He was a left-handed catcher with a lot of power. MLB scouts were impressed. The Montreal Expos drafted him in the 18th round of the 1995 MLB Draft. They thought he could become "one of the greatest catchers ever." But Brady chose to play football for the University of Michigan. He was the last active athlete ever drafted by the Expos.
In high school football, Brady completed 236 passes for 3,702 yards and 31 touchdowns. He won All-State honors and the team's Most Valuable Player Award. In 2003, he was inducted into the Junípero Serra High School Hall of Fame. In 2012, the school named its football stadium Brady Family Stadium.
College Football Journey
Brady played college football for the University of Michigan from 1995 to 1999. He spent his first two years as a backup quarterback. His teammate Brian Griese led the team to an undefeated season in 1997. They won the 1998 Rose Bowl and shared the national championship.
When Brady first started at Michigan, he was seventh on the team's depth chart. He struggled to get playing time. At one point, he even thought about transferring to another school. He worked with a sports psychologist to build his confidence.
Brady became the starting quarterback in 1998 and 1999. He was named team captain in his senior year. In 1998, he set new Michigan records for most pass attempts and completions in a season. He finished that season with a win in the 1999 Citrus Bowl.
In 1999, Brady had to compete for the starting job again. He played some games, and another quarterback, Drew Henson, played others. After a few games, coach Lloyd Carr decided to stick with Brady for the rest of the season. Brady led Michigan to exciting wins. This included a comeback victory against Penn State.
Brady also led Michigan to an overtime win in the 2000 Orange Bowl against Alabama. He threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns. He helped the team come back from being down by 14 points twice. Michigan won when Alabama missed an extra point.
In his two seasons as a starter, Brady had a 20–5 record. He graduated from Michigan in December 1999. He finished his college career ranking high in Michigan's history for passing yards and touchdowns.
NFL Career Highlights
Brady's success in the NFL is due to his hard work and competitive spirit. He also has great awareness on the field and is very smart. He started 333 regular season games and 48 playoff games. This is the most for any NFL quarterback. He played 20 seasons with the Patriots, which is also a record for a quarterback with one team.
Brady was the main starter for 21 seasons. He was a backup in his first year. He missed almost all of the 2008 season due to an injury. That was the only time he didn't start because of an injury. In his 21 seasons as a starter, he only missed the playoffs once (2002). He had only one losing season (2022).
Brady is the winningest quarterback in NFL history. He won 251 regular season games and 35 playoff games. His 35 playoff wins are more than double those of any other quarterback. In 2007, he led the Patriots to a perfect 16–0 regular season. In 2021, Brady became one of only four quarterbacks to beat all 32 NFL teams. He has been chosen for the Pro Bowl 15 times, which is an NFL record. He won the NFL MVP award three times.
Brady's 21 seasons as a starter led to seven Super Bowl titles. This is the most for any player. He played in a record 10 Super Bowls. He and Peyton Manning are the only starting quarterbacks to win the Super Bowl for more than one team. Brady won six with the Patriots and one with the Buccaneers. He also holds the record for most Super Bowl MVP awards with five. He is the only player to win this award with two different teams.
Brady holds almost every major quarterback record. This includes career passing yards, attempts, and touchdown passes. He is the only NFL quarterback with 600 regular season touchdown passes. He also has records for completions in both regular season and playoffs. Brady is known for playing well for a long time. He was the oldest quarterback to be named to the Pro Bowl (age 44) and win a Super Bowl (age 43).
Patriots Dynasty Years
Brady and head coach Bill Belichick created the most successful quarterback-head coach team in NFL history. Their time together, from 2001 to 2019, is called the "Brady–Belichick era." Many consider it one of the greatest dynasties in sports.
Drafted by the Patriots
Brady was not a highly-rated player coming out of college. He didn't have a great performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. The New England Patriots picked him in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft, as the 199th overall pick. Six other quarterbacks were chosen before him. Brady and his family were surprised he was drafted so late. He later said he was thankful he wouldn't "have to be an insurance salesman."
Patriots owner Robert Kraft remembered Brady telling him, "I'm the best decision this organization has ever made." Many experts now call Brady the best NFL draft pick ever. Brady started the 2000 season as the fourth-string quarterback. He completed only one pass for six yards in his rookie season.
First Super Bowl Win
In the 2001 season, the starting quarterback, Drew Bledsoe, got injured. Brady became the starter in the third game of the season. The Patriots won that game 44–13 against the Indianapolis Colts. Brady quickly found his rhythm. He led the Patriots to 11 wins in the 14 games he started. They won their division and got a bye in the playoffs. Brady finished the season with 2,843 passing yards and 18 touchdowns. He was invited to the 2002 Pro Bowl.
In his first playoff game, Brady led the Patriots to a comeback win against the Oakland Raiders. The game had a controversial play involving the "tuck rule." This rule helped the Patriots keep the ball. Brady got injured in the next game, the AFC Championship, but the Patriots still won.
In Super Bowl XXXVI, the Patriots were big underdogs against the St. Louis Rams. But Brady led them to a 20–17 victory. He drove the team down the field for a game-winning field goal as time ran out. Brady was named Super Bowl MVP. At 24 years old, he became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl. After this, Brady became the Patriots' permanent starting quarterback.
Back-to-Back Championships
In the 2002 season, Brady led the league with 28 touchdown passes. However, the Patriots missed the playoffs due to tiebreakers.
In 2003, Brady led the Patriots to 12 straight wins. They finished the regular season with a 14–2 record. Brady had 3,620 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. The Patriots won the Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers 32–29. Brady was named Super Bowl MVP for the second time. He threw for 354 yards and three touchdowns.
In 2004, Brady helped the Patriots set an NFL record with 21 straight wins. They finished 14–2 again. Brady threw for 3,692 yards and 28 touchdowns. In Super Bowl XXXIX, the Patriots beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24–21. They became the first team since the Dallas Cowboys to win three championships in four years. Brady threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns.
The Perfect Season
In 2007, Brady had one of the best seasons ever for a quarterback. The Patriots added new receivers like Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Brady led the Patriots to a perfect 16–0 regular season record. They scored an average of 37 points per game. Brady set a franchise record with six touchdown passes in one game. He also had a perfect passer rating in that game. He broke Peyton Manning's record for most touchdown passes in a season, finishing with 50.
Brady ended the 2007 season with 4,806 passing yards and 50 touchdown passes. He won the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. He was also named the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year. The Patriots won their first two playoff games. This made them the second team ever to win 18 straight games in one season.
In Super Bowl XLII, the Patriots faced the New York Giants. Brady was under a lot of pressure and was sacked five times. The Giants upset the Patriots 17–14. This loss prevented the Patriots from having a perfect 19–0 season.
Injury and Comeback
In the first game of the 2008 season, Brady suffered a serious knee injury. He tore two ligaments and needed surgery. This ended his season early. It also ended his streak of 111 straight starts. Even without Brady, the Patriots finished 11–5 but missed the playoffs.
Brady returned in 2009. In his first game back, he led the Patriots to a comeback win against the Bills. He threw for 378 yards and two touchdowns. Later that season, he threw five touchdowns in one quarter against the Titans. He finished the season with 4,398 passing yards and 28 touchdowns. He was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Deflategate Controversy
Before the 2015 season, there was a controversy called "Deflategate." It was about footballs being deflated in a playoff game. An NFL report said Brady was likely aware of the deflated footballs. The NFL suspended Brady for four games. Brady fought the suspension, but eventually accepted it.
In February 2022, a sportswriter claimed that the NFL had false information and hid details that would have cleared Brady. This writer said that NFL officials made quick judgments without fully understanding how air pressure in footballs can change.
Fifth Super Bowl Title
After his suspension, Brady returned in 2016. He led the Patriots to an 11–1 record in the games he played. He broke Brett Favre's record for most career regular season touchdown passes with one team. He also became the fifth quarterback to reach 60,000 career passing yards. The Patriots clinched their eighth straight division title. Brady finished the season with 28 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He was named the best player in the league by his fellow players.
In the playoffs, Brady led the Patriots to the AFC Championship Game. They beat the Steelers. This sent Brady to his record ninth Super Bowl.
In Super Bowl LI, the Patriots played the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons were leading 28–3 in the third quarter. Brady led the Patriots on an incredible comeback. They scored 25 unanswered points to tie the game. The game went into overtime for the first time in Super Bowl history. Brady led the Patriots to a touchdown in overtime, winning 34–28. This was the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. Brady won his fifth Super Bowl, setting a record for quarterbacks. He also won his fourth Super Bowl MVP award.
Sixth Super Bowl Title
In 2017, Brady was named the cover athlete for Madden NFL 18. He had another great season, leading the league with 4,577 passing yards. At age 40, he became the oldest player to lead the league in passing yards. He won his third NFL MVP award.
In Super Bowl LII, the Patriots faced the Philadelphia Eagles. Brady threw for a Super Bowl record 505 yards and three touchdowns. However, the Eagles won 41–33 in a high-scoring game. This was Brady's third Super Bowl loss.
In 2018, Brady started his 19th NFL season. He threw his 500th career touchdown pass. He also became the only quarterback to reach 200 regular season wins. The Patriots won their 10th straight AFC East title. Brady led the Patriots to the AFC Championship Game again. They beat the Chiefs in overtime in a thrilling game.
In Super Bowl LIII, the Patriots beat the Los Angeles Rams 13–3. It was the lowest-scoring Super Bowl ever. Brady became the oldest quarterback, at 41, to win a Super Bowl. He also became the first player to win six Super Bowls.
In 2019, Brady signed a contract extension. He passed Brett Favre and Peyton Manning on the all-time passing yards list. The Patriots struggled in the second half of the season. They lost in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs to the Titans. This was Brady's last game as a Patriot. On March 17, 2020, Brady announced he would not re-sign with the Patriots. This ended his 20 years with the team.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era
Joining the Buccaneers
Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on March 20, 2020. He got a two-year contract. His former Patriots teammate, Rob Gronkowski, also came out of retirement to join the Buccaneers.
Brady made his Buccaneers debut on September 13. He threw for two touchdowns and also scored a rushing touchdown. In Week 4, he threw five touchdowns against the Chargers. At 43 years old, he became the oldest quarterback to have a five-touchdown game. The Buccaneers ended a 13-year playoff drought. Brady finished the 2020 season with 4,633 passing yards and 40 touchdowns. The Buccaneers earned a wild card spot in the playoffs. This was a first for Brady's career.
Seventh Super Bowl Win
In the Wild Card Round, Brady threw for 381 yards and two touchdowns against the Washington Football Team. He became the oldest player to throw a touchdown pass in NFL postseason history. In the next round, the Buccaneers beat the Saints. This was likely the last game between Brady and Drew Brees, two legendary quarterbacks.
In the NFC Championship, Brady led the Buccaneers to a 31–26 win over the Packers. This sent Brady to his record-extending 10th Super Bowl. The Buccaneers became the first team to play in a Super Bowl in their home stadium.
In Super Bowl LV, Brady and the Buccaneers faced the Chiefs. Brady threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns. Tampa Bay won 31–9. Brady led the Buccaneers to become only the seventh Wild Card team to win the Super Bowl. He was awarded Super Bowl MVP for the game. He set a record for most postseason touchdown passes with Rob Gronkowski. Brady won his seventh Super Bowl, extending his record. He also extended his record for Super Bowl MVP awards, with five. He became the first quarterback to win the Super Bowl with teams from different conferences.
Brief Retirement and Final Season
On February 1, 2022, Brady announced he was retiring after 22 seasons. However, just 40 days later, on March 13, 2022, he announced he would return to the Buccaneers for the 2022 season.
In the first game of the 2022 season, Brady became the oldest quarterback to start an NFL game. In Week 3, he became the first quarterback to reach 85,000 career passing yards. In Week 9, he became the first quarterback to reach 100,000 passing yards in his career (combining regular season and playoffs). He also led his 55th game-winning drive, passing Peyton Manning for the most all-time.
In Week 17, Brady passed for 432 yards and three touchdowns. In Week 18, he broke his own NFL record for completions in a season. However, the Buccaneers lost, giving Brady his first career losing season as a starter. In the Wild Card Round, the Buccaneers lost to the Cowboys. This marked the first time since 2013 that Brady lost in the playoffs in consecutive seasons.
Life After Football
On February 1, 2023, Brady announced his retirement "for good." The Patriots honored him during a halftime ceremony on September 10, 2023. Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced that Brady would be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame without the usual waiting period or ballot. His induction took place on June 12, 2024. This date was chosen because June is the sixth month (for his six championships with the Patriots) and 12 is his jersey number.
On June 12, 2024, Governor Maura Healey declared it "Tom Brady Day" in Massachusetts. At the Hall of Fame ceremony, Kraft also announced that Brady's number 12 jersey would be retired. A 12-foot-tall statue of Brady will also be placed at the Patriots Hall of Fame building.
Becoming a Sports Commentator
On May 10, 2022, Fox Sports announced that Brady would join them as a lead TV commentator. His deal with Fox is reportedly worth $375 million over 10 years, making him the highest-paid sports commentator ever. Brady began his role for NFL on Fox in the 2024 NFL season.
The NFL has set some rules for Brady because he is also a part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. He cannot attend broadcast meetings or have special access to team facilities or players. He must also follow rules that prevent owners from criticizing game officials or other teams.
Other Ventures
Brady has appeared on TV shows like Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. He also had cameo roles in movies like Ted 2.
Brady has worked with many brands like Uggs and Under Armour. In 2016, he started his own line of vegan snacks. He also launched his website, TB12Sports.com, which shares his training information. In 2017, he released his book, The TB12 Method, which became a best-seller.
In 2021, Brady co-founded Autograph, a platform for sports digital collectibles (NFTs). He was also a paid spokesperson for FTX, a cryptocurrency company. When FTX went bankrupt, Brady and his wife lost a lot of money. They are now part of a lawsuit against the company.
Brady has also played in charity golf events. In 2022, Netflix announced a comedy special called The Roast of Tom Brady, where he was the main subject. It aired live on May 5, 2024.
In 2023, Brady bought a small share in the Las Vegas Aces, a WNBA team. That same year, the Aces won the WNBA Championship. He also became a minority owner of an English soccer club, Birmingham City. In 2024, he became a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders.
In 2023, Tom founded Team Brady, an electric boat racing team. They became world champions in 2024.
Personal Life
Brady was raised Catholic, but he has said he is more spiritual than religious.
During his time with the Patriots, Brady lived in Brookline, Massachusetts. He and his family own several homes. When he joined the Buccaneers, he rented a mansion in Tampa, Florida.
Brady has a son, John Edward Thomas "Jack" Moynahan, born in August 2007, with actress Bridget Moynahan.
In December 2006, Brady started dating Brazilian model Gisele Bündchen. They married on February 26, 2009. They have two children together: a son, Benjamin Rein Brady, born in December 2009, and a daughter, Vivian Lake Brady, born in December 2012. In October 2022, the couple announced their divorce.
Brady's niece, Maya Brady, is a college softball player for the UCLA Bruins.
Politics
Brady is friends with former President Donald Trump. In 2016, Trump said Brady supported him and voted for him. However, Brady's wife, Gisele Bündchen, later said that she and Brady did not support Trump. Brady has said his wife told him not to talk about politics anymore, which he thought was a "good decision." Brady did not visit the White House with the Patriots in 2017 after their Super Bowl win.
Brady has said he has known Trump since 2001. He explained that Trump asked him to speak at the 2016 Republican National Convention, but he declined. Brady said it was "uncomfortable" to get involved in a political event. He has stated he has no interest in running for political office.
Diet and Lifestyle
Brady follows a strict health plan called the TB12 Method. This includes meditation, yoga, and drinking a lot of water. He follows an 80/20 diet, meaning 80% alkaline foods and 20% acidic foods. He avoids most fruits, mushrooms, tomatoes, coffee, sugar, and gluten. He prefers organic food.
Some of Brady's friends and teammates, like Rob Gronkowski, also follow his diet plan. Other athletes, like quarterback Kirk Cousins, have adopted it too.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Stuck on You | Computer geek |
| 2015 | Ted 2 | Himself |
| Entourage | Himself | |
| 2023 | 80 for Brady | Himself |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | In the Game | Himself | Television documentary |
| 2005 | Saturday Night Live | Himself/Host | Season 30 Episode 17 |
| The Simpsons | Himself | Episode: "Homer and Ned's Hail Mary Pass" | |
| 2006 | Family Guy | Himself | Episode: "Patriot Games" |
| 2009 | Entourage | Himself | Episode: "Fore!" |
| 2018 | Tom vs Time | Himself | 6 episode Facebook Watch sports documentary series |
| 2019 | Living with Yourself | Himself | Episode: "The Best You Can Be" |
| 2021 | Man in the Arena: Tom Brady | Himself | 10 episode ESPN miniseries |
| 2024 | The Dynasty: New England Patriots | Himself | 10 episode Apple TV+ sports documentary series |
| The Roast of Tom Brady | Himself | Netflix comedy special | |
| LEGO Marvel Avengers: Mission Demolition | Himself (voice) | Disney+ special |
Images for kids
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Brady during the 2009 preseason
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A game-worn jersey of Brady's in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Brady on the sideline at Giants Stadium with teammates Randy Moss and Jabar Gaffney, after throwing for his record-breaking 50th passing touchdown of the 2007 season
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Brady in action against the Washington Redskins on August 28, 2009
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Brady in Denver in 2011
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Brady during the 2013 season
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Brady in September 2014 against the Minnesota Vikings
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Brady in Denver in November 2015
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Brady during the 2016 season
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Brady set the Super Bowl record for passing yards in Super Bowl LII, but the game ended in defeat
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Brady in a game against the Redskins
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Brady in the 2019 playoffs against the Tennessee Titans, his final game with the Patriots
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Brady against the Washington Football Team in the 2020 playoffs
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Brady during the 2021 season
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Brady is a seven-time Super Bowl champion, winning six titles with the New England Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Brady holds nearly every record in career, single-season, and single-game passing statistics for the Patriots (regular season and playoffs), in addition to having the most total games played with the franchise
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Brady playing catch with a U.S. Air Force airman at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in 2018
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See also
In Spanish: Tom Brady para niños
- List of gridiron football quarterbacks passing statistics
- List of NFL quarterback playoff records
- List of NFL quarterbacks with 5,000 passing yards in a season
- List of Super Bowl starting quarterbacks
- Michigan Wolverines football statistical leaders
- Tom Brady–Peyton Manning rivalry
