With all his accomplishments and countless records in the NFL, Tom Brady might just be the GOAT of the league. He is considered one of the greatest athletes in the world, often paralleling legends such as Roger Federer, Sachin Tendulkar and Michael Jordan. However, despite his achievements and various accolades, Brady is reluctant to acknowledge the title.
Fresh off his 13-3 Super Bowl LIII win against the LA Rams in February 2019, Brady revealed he doesn’t like being labeled with the title. In an exclusive interview with Good Morning America, he said:
“I don’t even like it; it makes me cringe.”
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Brady believes the title could negatively impact his performance as he is driven more by criticism than accolades.
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“I wish you would say, ‘You suck, you’re too old, you’re too slow, you can’t get it done anymore,’” Brady said. “And I’ll say, ‘Thank you’ very much; I’ll prove you wrong.”
Brady shone brightest during the second half of his career. As the years passed, it matured like a fine wine with experience. Alex Guerrero’s flexibility therapy helped Brady stay fit and injury-free, meaning the age factor never caught up with him.
Brady believes he is his biggest critic, and that motivates him to get the best out of him.
“The personal criticism, I mean, I think I walk off the practice field and say, ‘That was the worst day, you know, like getting your mind right,’” he said. “Sport has always brought that out in me.”
Tom Brady stands up to silence doubters
A careful observation of Tom Brady’s career trajectory shows that he rose through the ranks when he was most doubted. After being drafted No. 199 in the 2000 draft, Brady was benched until an injury to Drew Bledsoe in the 2001–02 season gave him an opportunity. Brady led the Patriots to Super Bowl XXXVI, beginning the epic Brady-Belichick era.
Another example occurred during the latter part of his career, when he left the Patriots. Fans doubted Brady could be the same without Belichick and the Patriots, and he proved them wrong again. He joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and led them to a Super Bowl victory in his first season.
These Super Bowl wins highlight an intrinsic trait of Brady’s ability to push back on his doubters.
Edited by Krutik Jain