The undisputed GOAT of football

Charles Tam, Asst. Sports Editor|February 23, 2021

Seven-time Super Bowl champion. Three-time Most Valuable Player. 14-time Pro Bowler. These accolades speak for themselves – Tom Brady is not only the undisputed best quarterback in history, but also the greatest football player of all time.

As the 199th pick in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, Brady has defied all odds in achieving this level of acclaim. Scouts said he had a “poor build” and lacked mobility and strength. Despite these challenges, in his 20-year tenure with the Patriots, Brady led the Patriots to 17 AFC East divisional titles, 13 AFC Championship Games and six Super Bowl titles out of nine Super Bowl appearances.

But the moment that truly solidified his status as the greatest of all time was when he led the Patriots to a 25-point comeback against the Atlanta Falcons in the 2017 Super Bowl, winning 34-28 in overtime.

But even as he aged and many speculated that his career was done for, Brady wasn’t done yet. Last year, Brady joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a fresh start after the previous season, in which Brady and the Patriots were defeated by the Tennessee Titans in the Wild Card round of the postseason. Many critics said Patriots coach Bill Belichick was the reason behind Brady’s success, and his haters called him “washed.” Joining the Buccaneers was his opportunity to prove his doubters wrong.

In his redemption season, his first with the Buccaneers, a 43-year-old Brady led the team to an 11-5 regular-season record and ultimately to Super Bowl LV. As underdogs, Brady and the Buccaneers faced defending champions Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Brady went on to win his seventh ring, all while leading the Buccaneers to their second Super Bowl victory.

Along the way to his seventh Super Bowl victory, he defeated fellow legendary quarterbacks Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers, as well as Mahomes. Meanwhile, his former team, the Patriots, and Belichick failed to advance to the playoffs with a 7-9 regular season record. The Tom Brady effect was in full display.

There is no doubt in my mind who the GOAT of football is. Brady has more Super Bowl wins than any NFL franchise. He is now among the GOATs of all-sports in my opinion. And despite what any critics may say, it’s clear that as he enters his 22nd season, Brady still has plenty left in the tank; he is capable of accomplishing even more.