Born on August 3, 1977, Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr. (wow that is a lot of names) was the youngest of 4 children. He has 3 older sisters who were also athletes, apparently they were very good. Maureen, his oldest sister, was a star softball pitcher which landed her a spot on the U.S. Junior Olympic team when she was 17 and had a scholarship at Fresno State. She is now a softball instructor and a nurse. Julie, the middle sister, was exceptional at soccer and earned a scholarship for college. Nancy, the youngest of Tom’s sisters, excelled in softball and got a scholarship for college also. Then, there is Tom. He did not start off on the football field, he played on the diamond. He also played basketball. He tried to stay even with his athletic older sisters; he felt he had to compete.
Sharing a love for sports, the Brady siblings had a tight bond. The whole family would attend Candlestick Park to watch the San Francisco 49’ers and Tom became a fan of quarterback Joe Montana (who he calls his idol). Football, then, entered his mind.
High School Football
Tom’s ‘career’ started while attending Junipero Sierra High School. Tom and his father would spend Sunday’s visiting out-of-state football camps. The challenge to live up to his sisters reputations gave Tom the mental strength to catch up to those who were ahead of him. This mental toughness helped define him at the University of Michigan. Brady played for the Michigan Wolverines; he was a backup quarterback for his first 2 years. His Wolverine teammate, Brian Griese (former Bronco’s quarterback) led the team to an undefeated season and the Rose Bowl in 1997. Brady had to struggle and fight to even get any playing time. He even went as far as hiring a sports psychologist to help him deal with frustration and anxiety. At one point he even considered transferring to Cal.
Finally, Brady started in every game in the 1998 and 1999 seasons. During his first year as a starter he set Michigan’s records (even back then he was that good). In his 1999 season, he led the Wolverines to an overtime victory in the Orange Bowl over Alabama, in which he threw for 369 yards for 4 touchdowns.
The NFL
Brady entered the 2000 NFL Draft. He was being considered by the Patriots, as well as Tim Rattay. They both had received positive reviews. Thank God NE chose Brady (can you imagine?). Many have said Brady was the best NFL draft pick of all time (of all time, said like Kayne West). He started the 2000 season as the 4th string quarterback behind Drew Bledsoe, John Friesz and Michael Bishop (who?).
In 2001, the Patriots started the season with a 23-17 loss to Cincinnati (ouch) with Bledsoe being the quarterback. On September 23, the 2nd game against the NY Jets, Bledsoe got hit from linebacker, Mo Lewis, and suffered internal bleeding. Brady was the starter for the 3rd game of the season against the Colts. His first 2 games as a starter were not too much to be talked about. In the 5th game, the clouds started to part and Tom began to find his groove. The Pats were losing to the San Diego Chargers (I miss Danny Woodhead, just sayin’), 26-16. In the 4th quarter, Brady had 2 scoring drives and forced into overtime and then setting up the field goal that won the game and finishing with 33 pass completions on 54 attempts for 364 yards and 2 touchdowns. NE went on the finish the 2001 season with winning 11 of the 14 games that Brady started in and winning the AFC East and entered the playoffs. In the championship game against the Pittsburgh Steeler’s, Brady injured his knee and was replaced by Bledsoe. NE ended up winning and became the 14-point underdogs against the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. The score was tied and there was only 1:21 left in the game, NE was at their own 15 yard line, with no timeouts. Brady drove the Pats down the field to the Rams 31 yard line before spiking the ball, leaving only 7 seconds left on the clock. Adam Vinatieri kicked the winning field goal (yay). Of course, Brady was named MVP of the Super Bowl, becoming the then-youngest quarterback to ever win the Super Bowl. He was also named MVP in their Super Bowl XXXVII win over the Panthers and also they won Super Bowl XXXIX. That’s right people, 3 Super Bowl wins!
In 2008, fans got a little bit of a jolt when Brady’s left knee was seriously injured halfway through the 3rd quarter of the season opener against the Kansas City Cheifs, when Bernard Pollard hit him, ending his season. The diehard Patriots’ fans were horrified. I do have to admit that Matt Cassell impressed me. He stepped up when we severely needed him to.
Brady returned for the 2009 season (after having surgery) and set, yet, another record, most touchdowns in a single quarter throwing 5 in the 2nd quarter. He finished the season with 4,398 yards passing and 28 touchdowns for a 96.2 rating and all the while having a broken finger and 3 fractured ribs. But, everyone says he is a ‘baby’, go figure.
Tom Brady has set so many records; it would take up a lot of text to type. Look them up.
On February 25, 2013, Brady signed a 3 year contract extension.
Tom Brady is married to Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen, they were set up on a blind date. Can you imagine finding out your blind date is a gorgeous supermodel, can you imagine finding out your blind date is a gorgeous pro-football quarterback.
So everyone hates Tom Brady, he is a baby, he whines, he models Uggs, blah, blah, blah…..
- He is the best quarterback in the NFL
- He is the best looking quarterback in the NFL
- He is married to a supermodel
- He has 3 beautiful children
- He is living the dream
Ya, what a jerk, huh? Don’t be a hater, extremely envious would be the better term.