Tom Brady: The Best QB of All-Time?
Just over fourteen weeks ago, Tom Brady hoisted seven pounds of scored sterling silver into the confetti-filled air while all of his worshippers watched in amazed awe down below.
An intense fire was in his eyes as he stood on that lively platform, hardware at the end of his golden throwing arm, with coach Bill Belichick and NFL great Terry Bradshaw at his side. The man had just added a fifth Super Bowl to his already illustrious, achievement-filled career.
But let’s back up for a minute for a game refresher because it wasn’t always so easy.
The Atlanta Falcons had dominated the entire first half, soaring to a 21-3 halftime lead in Super Bowl 51. About midway through the third quarter, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were trailing by an almost insurmountable 25 points. Luckily for New England, it was a tale of two halves.
Touchdown. Field goal. Touchdown. Touchdown. The Patriots had scored 25 points, all unanswered. The game was headed to overtime, the first in Super Bowl history.
Tom Brady marched his troops all the way down the field to the two-yard line. The center direct-snapped the pigskin to Patriots running back James White who fought his way into the end zone for a touchdown. The New England Patriots had won the Super Bowl in the greatest comeback in the history of football.
Brady completed 43 of his 62 pass attempts for 466 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the 34-28 historic comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons.
It wasn’t just a historic game. It wasn’t just a historic comeback. It wasn’t just a historic Super Bowl. It was an absolutely brilliant, record-setting performance by Brady.
Five Super Bowl rings, most all-time by a quarterback. 43 completions in a Super Bowl, most all-time. 466 passing yards in a Super Bowl, most all-time. Four Super Bowl MVPs, passes Joe Montana for most all-time. Three Super Bowl fourth quarter comeback wins, most all-time by a quarterback. Ten game-winning drives in the postseason, most all-time by a quarterback.
Need I say more?
The signal caller for the Patriots ranks fourth all-time in completed passes, passing yards and passing touchdowns. And Brady is three wins shy of becoming the winningest quarterback in NFL history. Heck, his career isn’t even over yet.
We have seen many great quarterbacks take the field over the years, but none like Brady. Not Johnny Unitas, not Steve Young, not Joe Montana, not John Elway, not Dan Marino, not Brett Favre and not even Peyton Manning. None of these all-time great quarterbacks have accomplished what the 17-year NFL veteran quarterback has.
Numbers never lie. He has solidified himself as the greatest quarterback in the history of football. It’s not a debate anymore. Throw any name out there, I dare you. Oh, and I truly wish you the best of luck.
