Reflecting On The Career Of Tom Brady The G O A T

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 11, 2025, 7:40 PM

reflecting on the career of tom brady the g o a t

Netflix Officially Announces Documentary Series on “The G.O.A.T.” — Tom Brady “Brady: The Relentless Pursuit” set to premiere in fall 2025 In what is being hailed as one of the most exciting announcements of the year, Netflix has officially confirmed the upcoming release of a full-length original documentary series chronicling the legendary career and personal... Titled “Brady: The Relentless Pursuit”, the multi-part series will offer fans an exclusive, in-depth look at the man widely regarded as the greatest quarterback in the history of American football. The project is set to debut in fall 2025 and is already being compared to Netflix’s other critically acclaimed sports documentaries such as The Last Dance and Quarterback. But according to early reports, Brady: The Relentless Pursuit aims to take sports storytelling to a new level—blending high-stakes drama, never-before-seen footage, and intimate interviews to paint the most comprehensive portrait ever created of...

With seven Super Bowl championships, five Super Bowl MVPs, and an unprecedented 23-year career in the NFL, Tom Brady’s resume speaks for itself. From his sixth-round draft selection in 2000 to his transformation into the face of the NFL, Brady’s journey is one of grit, determination, and unwavering belief in the power of preparation. If you’ve ever questioned who the greatest NFL player of all time is, Tom Brady undeniably stands out as a legend in professional football. With a career spanning over two decades, Brady has redefined what it means to excel in the National Football League. His record-breaking achievements in passing yards, touchdowns, and wins, coupled with an unmatched seven Super Bowl victories, set a benchmark no other player has approached. Remarkably, Brady has earned five Super Bowl MVP titles, showcasing his ability to deliver under immense pressure during the sport’s biggest moments.

Beyond the numbers, Brady’s career exemplifies longevity and consistency. From his years with the New England Patriots to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his leadership and competitive drive have left an indelible mark on NFL history. His influence reshaped the quarterback role and inspired countless players. As we delve into his extraordinary career, it’s evident why Tom Brady is celebrated as the definitive G.O.A.T. in NFL history. Tom Brady’s championship pedigree is unparalleled, highlighted by his record-setting seven Super Bowl victories, the most by any NFL player in history.

His wins span three different decades, including six titles with the New England Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady’s journey to these titles began with Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002, where he led the Patriots to their first-ever championship. Of all the GOAT debates in sports, one of the easiest to call comes from football, because there isn’t a debate at all. Tom Brady made the conversation an open-and-shut affair. There are no competition concerns, numbers to scrutinize, or “yeah, but”s to explore. The only mystery isn’t who the GOAT is, but how it ended up being the 199th pick of an NFL draft.

Let’s explore what makes a skinny 6th round quarterback in the world’s most brutal sport the unequivocal greatest of all time. It’s easy to start with statistics, and there’s no reason to bury the lede, so let’s begin there. The most important position in all of sports is, arguably, quarterback. There have been dozens of phenomenal quarterbacks in NFL history. What makes Tom Brady so unique is that he has more passing yards, passing touchdowns, 4th quarter comebacks, game-winning drives, regular season wins, postseason wins, Super Bowl victories, and Super Bowl MVPs than all... His 12 combined Super Bowl rings and Super Bowl MVPs are five more than any other player in NFL history.

His Approximate Value–a statistic created by Pro Football Reference to estimate career value–is 49 more than any other player, which is greater than the difference between 2nd place and 9th place. He not only has the greatest career in history, but his 2007 regular season is arguably the greatest season in history. Brady’s career statistics are enough to end the debate, but there are several other angles that bolster his legacy. For instance, Brady’s impact on winning is unrivaled in the sport. Bill Belichick is often included on the Mount Rushmore of NFL head coaches, and rightfully so. Belichick has a record six Super Bowl victories as a head coach, and appeared in a record nine Super Bowls.

However, Belichick owes quite a bit to Brady for his success. Belichick’s career regular season record without Brady is 83-104 (.444). With Brady? Well things look a little sunnier at 219-64 (.774). Belichick’s career playoff record without Brady stands at just 1-2 (.333). Again, with Brady, that record balloons to 30-11 (.732).

Certainly, there was some mutualism between Brady and Belichick in New England, but Belichick was unsuccessful in three NFL stints without Brady. Brady without Belichick? This is where Brady’s legacy reaches the land beyond the land of the absurd. Brady left New England to be the starting quarterback for Tampa Bay in 2020. Tampa had not made the playoffs in the previous 12 seasons, and carried a 7-9 record in 2019. In Brady’s first season without Belichick, he was the MVP of the Super Bowl!

Brady would go on to lead the Bucs to the playoffs in all three of his seasons in Tampa, and did so in his mid-40s. Brady’s career regular season without Belichick is 32-18 (.640), and his playoff record is 5-2 (.714). It is rare in sports that we get to see such a definitive conclusion on the relative importance of a single player as we’ve been able to see with Brady. His massive success with and without Belichick, and with and without the Patriots and Bucs, combined with Belichick and Tampa’s poor records without Brady shows just how instrumental Brady was to his winning endeavors. Brady’s massive statistical ledger and his impact on winning are more than enough to close the book on this debate, but there’s more. Brady’s sustained excellence is only rivaled by LeBron James in the history of professional sports.

Brady led the NFL in passing yards in his 20s, 30s, and 40s. He did the same with touchdowns. He won multiple Super Bowls in his 20s, 30s, and 40s. As a starting quarterback, Brady was 70-24 (.745) in his 20s, 113-28 (.801) in his 30s, and 68-30 (.694) in his 40s. There are only three quarterbacks in history besides Brady who won two Super Bowls with at least a .694 career winning %, and Brady accomplished that in his 20s, 30s, and 40s. Brady’s sustained excellence shows up even more if we move beyond the fact that he’s the all time leader in so many categories, and explore just how big his margin is over second place...

His 10 Super Bowl appearances are four more than any other player. His 251 regular season wins are 65 more than any other player. The difference between Brady and 2nd place is the same as the difference between 2nd and 12th place. Brady’s regular season win total is twice as many as all but 8 quarterbacks in NFL history. Brady’s 35 playoff wins are more than double any other quarterback in history. He has twice as many passing yards as all but 18 quarterbacks, and twice as many passing touchdowns as all but 12.

Tom Brady retired on Tuesday, ending in one fell swoop a week of speculation over his future and one of the greatest NFL careers of all time — if not the greatest. It's no hyperbole to consider Brady among the game's greatest players — indeed, one of the greatest athletes in American sports history. He has put together arguably three Hall of Fame careers — one in his 20s, one in his 30s and another, somehow, in his 40s — and has achieved more in his 22 years... MORE: Tom Brady retires the undisputed NFL GOAT: Why there will never be a 'Next Tom Brady' Hence, Brady is often referred to as the "GOAT." But what does that mean? The Sporting News is here to answer that question.

No, Brady being the "GOAT" does not mean he is a hooved barnyard animal — it merely is an acronym for "Greatest Of All Time." That description is pretty apt for Brady, considering not... Tom Brady’s name is often synonymous with the term "Greatest of All Time" (GOAT) in the world of football. With seven Super Bowl titles, five Super Bowl MVPs, and countless records, it’s easy to see why so many consider him the best to ever play the game. But, as the debate around the GOAT continues to rage, it’s worth examining whether or not Brady truly deserves that title. While his achievements are undeniable, there are valid reasons to question whether he’s the greatest NFL player of all time. One of the biggest arguments against Tom Brady being the GOAT is the system that he played in for much of his career.

Brady’s success, especially in New England with Bill Belichick, was heavily influenced by the Patriots’ system. Belichick’s strategic brilliance and the way he built his teams to win in a system-first manner often masked individual talent. Unlike other quarterbacks who were tasked with leading high-powered offenses, Brady thrived in a more controlled environment where defense and game management played a significant role in his Super Bowl victories. Look at some of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL—Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, or Peyton Manning—who have all been required to carry teams on their backs with explosive offensive play, often in situations... Brady, on the other hand, often had the luxury of playing on teams that had a top-tier defense and a well-coached unit around him. While Tom Brady’s career is decorated with accolades, his individual dominance can be questioned.

The NFL has seen players who revolutionized the game and dominated at their position, often making every game about their performance. Players like Jerry Rice, Lawrence Taylor, and Reggie White had individual seasons that were so incredible they changed the course of their teams’ seasons. Brady, by contrast, is a master of consistency, but he never truly had the level of peak dominance that we saw from other GOAT candidates. Brady’s stats don’t always reflect a jaw-dropping, MVP-caliber season every year. Instead, he often won due to his ability to manage games and lead his team in clutch moments—valuable traits, but not necessarily the hallmark of the most dominant player in history. A pivotal college conversation reshaped Brady's mindset-motivating him to seize every opportunity and ignite the mindset that fuelled his legendary comeback.

Las Vegas Raiders co-owner Tom Brady knows better than most how to win in the NFL, having collected seven Super Bowl rings across his illustrious career. On his way to becoming arguably the greatest quarterback in the modern game, Brady reflected on the teachings that led him to greatness, or even being named the 'GOAT' of the NFL. In a recent interview shared by creator theschoolofhardknockz, legendary quarterback + Brady reflected on the life-changing advice he received in college - an exchange that marked the turning point from self-doubt to self-belief and... Brady, who won rings with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, revealed that, as a sophomore at the University of Michigan, he frequently complained to a sports psychologist about not receiving the... Tom Brady and the lore around him have never hidden the fact that he wasn’t built like an NFL superstar. He wasn’t the strongest arm in Michigan, wasn’t the most athletic quarterback in his division, and certainly wasn’t the type of prospect scouts fought over.

From running a below-average 40 at the Combine to being drafted 199th overall, Brady entered the NFL as the opposite of a physical prototype. Yet, he left the league as the most decorated football player ever. According to Brady himself, this stunning turnaround happened because he trained the one muscle nobody measures on draft day or the Combine: his mind. And in the latest edition of his 199 newsletter, he revealed how much of that growth came through therapy, perspective shifting, and emotional work that reshaped how he handled adversity. Brady explained that emotional resilience isn’t really about being stoic or tough, as many would assume. In fact, it is about creating what author Stephen Covey called “the space between stimulus and response.”

Reflecting On The Career Of Tom Brady The G O A T

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