One hundred and ninety-eight players were taken in the 2000 NFL Draft before the New England Patriots selected Tom Brady in the sixth round. Nearly 15 years later, that same skinny quarterback out of Michigan is a sure-fire Hall of Famer and firmly in the discussion as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
Super Bowl XLIX: Tom Brady’s postseason legacy
Brady has a chance to add to his incredible postseason record with yet another Super Bowl win on Sunday night.
Brady’s legacy as an elite player is largely defined by his nearly unparalleled success in the playoffs. He is the all-time leading passer in career playoff yards (7,017), touchdowns (49), completions (646) and attempts (1,035). Brady’s 20 postseason wins are not only the most of any quarterback, but also more than 21 current franchises have in their history.
Brady also knows how to perform on the NFL's biggest stage. When he steps on the field Sunday night, he'll become the first quarterback ever to start six Super Bowls. A win against the Seattle Seahawks would give Brady his fourth title, tying him with Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw for the most by a quarterback in NFL history. He is already one of five players to be named Super Bowl MVP multiple times, and is looking to join Montana as the only three-time winner. Brady's name is all over the Super Bowl record books, ranking first in completions (127), yards (1,277) and attempts (197), and tied for second in touchdown passes (nine).
He’s been at his best in the clutch, leading the Patriots to eight fourth-quarter/OT game-winning drives, two more than any other quarterback in league postseason history. That includes his late-game heroics in each of the Patriots’ three Super Bowl wins, an unprecedented number for a quarterback.
Perhaps Brady’s most impressive trait is his ability to play at such a high level for so many years. More than a decade after leading the Patriots to their first Super Bowl title following the 2001 season, Brady once again has New England on the cusp of yet another title. In fact, Brady will be the first quarterback in NFL history to start Super Bowls 13 years apart, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
Brady might be the greatest postseason quarterback of all-time, but his recent track record in the playoffs suggests he might need another ring to solidify his overall G.O.A.T. status. Brady hasn’t won a Super Bowl in a decade, and he has lost in his past two trips to the big game. He went 10-0 in his first 10 playoff games, but is just 10-8 in the postseason since then. If the Patriots can beat the Seahawks and give Brady that elusive fourth ring, it just might cement his place on the de facto Mount Rushmore of NFL quarterbacks.
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