Why Is Tom Brady The Goat The 100 Greatest

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 8, 2025, 11:59 AM

why is tom brady the goat the 100 greatest

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 case as the NFL’s GOAT is underlined by a staggering array of records and championship performances that elevate him above every quarterback in league history.

Brady’s legacy has made him the benchmark against which all future greats will be measured. The following analysis aims to provide a concrete justification for why Brady is the undisputed GOAT. Tom Brady’s statistical profile is a story of sustained dominance and unmatched winning. His game-winning drives of 67 and fourth-quarter comebacks of 51 are the most in the history of the NFL. This proves that he is a high-pressure performer. Tom Brady, one of the greatest quarterbacks, has officially announced that he has retired from the NFL.

One of the most popular terms with which Brady has always been known is “The GOAT”, an acronym for “Greatest of all time”. This term is used to refer to great athletes and the United Press has been using it for a long time. This title is apt for him not only considering how well he played in the NFL but for his 22 years of career in the league. His remarkable achievements in his career have earned him this title. Here are the top three reasons why Tom Brady is considered the GOAT of American Football. The greatest ‘coach or player’ debate of all time had been raging for years, with fans, analysts, and former players weighing in on both sides.

In a move that stunned the football world, Tom Brady left the New England Patriots after two decades of unparalleled success under the guidance of Bill Belichick. Many wondered if Brady was making a mistake, leaving the only team he had ever known to start fresh in Tampa Bay. But the quarterback had a plan. With his trademark grit and determination, Brady led the Buccaneers to a championship in his first season, defying the odds and proving that he was more than just a product of Belichick’s coaching. He was a leader on and off the field, setting an example for everyone around him. When it came time to play, Brady was nothing short of masterful.

He seemed to know exactly what play to call at every moment, using his experience and football IQ to outmaneuver opposing defenses. Tom Brady is G.O.A.T., the Greatest of All-Time. This isn’t a matter of opinion, it’s a fact and he’s got more championships than any NFL player in history to back up his title. But part of being the GOAT is learning how to handle the fame and success with aplomb, something Tom’s mastered throughout the years. And after being named #1 by his peers in this year’s NFL Top 100 voting, Tom Brady showed once again that he’s the GOAT on and off the field. This is just a testament to the family, teammates, coaches, staff, and every single one of you who've supported me along the way.

Thank you all. Let's go get another one. @Buccaneers https://t.co/yTencKjCBC — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) August 29, 2022 After re-reading Tom’s thank you to everyone in his life, I simply cannot imagine how expensive it is to be Tom Brady. The phrase ‘it takes a village’ applies to his life in ways that I couldn’t even begin to understand.

Tom Brady faces down the Tennessee Titans during his final season for the Patriots. (USA Today Sports via Reuters: David Butler II) It's official: Tom Brady is retiring. Again. As the 23-season veteran quarterback prepares to move off the field and into the commentary booth, the headlines have begun to flow — "legend", "superstar", "immortal". Yet somehow, it doesn't feel like those terms quite serve their purpose any more when it comes to getting across what Brady accomplished.

If you aren't a fan of American football, you could easily get lost in the lingo and assume this is a typical case of sportswriters reaching for breathless superlatives. Tom Brady, a name synonymous with excellence in American football, bears a title that transcends mere accolades or statistics. He is known as “the GOAT,” an acronym that signifies him as the “Greatest of All Time.” Brady’s journey from an unheralded sixth-round draft pick to an unparalleled legend in the National Football League (NFL) has made him a symbol of athletic prowess, resilience, and consistency. His unrivaled success in Super Bowl victories, coupled with records shattered and career longevity rarely seen in professional sports, has earned him this hallowed distinction. This designation reflects not just his talent but the indelible mark he has left on the world of football.

In football, the term “GOAT” stands for “Greatest of All Time.” It is a colloquial expression used to describe a player who is considered the best in the history of the sport. When someone is referred to as the “GOAT” in football, it signifies their unrivaled excellence, remarkable achievements, and their lasting impact on the game.

Why Is Tom Brady The Goat The 100 Greatest

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