23 years in the game have come to an end. Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr., famously labeled as the “greatest of all time,” is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 23 seasons. In his first 20 seasons, he played for the New England Patriots and finished the last three seasons of his career playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  

Looking back at Brady’s career, with a total of seven Super Bowl titles, 335 games played, over 700 career touchdowns — postseason included — a total of 15 Pro Bowl appearances and three NFL Most Valuable Player awards, Brady has been a major figure in the NFL.

“Tom Brady has always been my inspiration; ever since I was little, I just looked up to him so much and he definitely played a role in the fact that I play football today. The fact that he is retiring makes me a little sad cause I looked up to him so much and he inspired me to get to where I am today, but I am happy for him and at least he knows he got the best out of his career,” Miami Palmetto Senior High quarterback and sophomore Lucas Goenaga said. 

Brady started his career playing football at Junipero High School in San Mateo, California. Originally a starter on the junior varsity football team, Brady obtained the starting spot on the varsity team by his junior year after the starting quarterback’s unexpected injury. Following high school, Brady went on to play football at the University of Michigan.

Brady was not necessarily at the top of his team during his time at Michigan. He struggled to get playing time, which affected his love for the game and even made him consider transferring schools and seeing a sports psychologist to help him cope with frustration and anxiety. Eventually, Brady worked closely with assistant athletic director Greg Harden, who met with Brady every week to build his confidence and maximize his performance on the field. Without these influential figures, Brady would not have achieved what he has today.

Despite being ranked 99 overall, Brady was not selected until the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. Brady continuously worked to improve his skills and get the playing time that he strived for. 

The hard work paid off when Brady won his first Super Bowl title in 2002. He went on to win five more titles playing alongside the New England Patriots. In 2020, after spending 20 great years with the New England Patriots, Brady got drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

In 2021, Brady won his first Super Bowl title alongside the Buccaneers, which concluded his Super Bowl titles. Brady had several strong years and became one of the United States’ most beloved quarterbacks. Though Brady initially claimed he was retiring in 2022, he claims that ‘this time, it is for good.’