Brady left Boston, risked stepping out of his comfort zone, and embraced a new challenge. Source: AFP
Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, and Serena Williams have company. Tom Brady didn’t need to prove anything else to be recognized as the greatest football player in history. Conquering the Super Bowl LV at 43, the seventh in his career, the first to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, puts him in the discussion among the greatest in American sports.
With the 31-9 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs, who came as a candidate to revalidate the title, Brady also put the passing of the legacy to Patrick Mahomes, called to be his successor, on hold. The young wonder was overshadowed by the veteran’s clinical performance and could do little against the great performance of the Bucs defense.
When in 2020 the New England Patriots, a year after winning the sixth Super Bowl, fell in the first round of the playoffs, Questions arose regarding the term of Tom Brady, that had turned this team into a dynasty. That he was old, that he no longer had the ability to throw deep, that he had lost a split second in decision-making. Differences with the organization and with coach Bill Bellichick, with whom he had won six championships and reached three other finals, led him to choose another path. The separation was a shock after 19 years together.
Tom Brady and the conquest of the seventh Super Bowlen in his career, put him in the discussion among the greatest of North American sports Source: AFP
Many were surprised when he chose the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team that had not reached the playoffs since 2007 and had won only one title in its history, in 2003 (with Argentine kicker Martín Gramatica in its ranks). “He’s going to Florida to retire, like everyone else,” they said. Nothing of that. Brady did not choose to trade the cold of Boston for the heat of the Caribbean for a matter of comfort, but risked stepping out of his comfort zone and embraced a new challenge.
In Tampa Bay he found a group of receivers he didn’t have on the Patriots, like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, whom Brady fed by helping bring in former New England teammates Rob Gronkowski (who came back from retirement and had two touchdowns in the final) and Antonio Brown (who overcame disciplinary problems and scored third). In addition, he added running back Leonard Fournette from free agency. All three were key on Sunday. Above all, Brady came to a voracious team on defense, led by veteran Bruce Arians. At age 68, the former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator became the oldest coach to win the Super Bowl, surpassing Bellichick’s own mark.
Well surrounded, Brady reinvented himself and silenced the detractors who typecast him as a “system quarterback” who could only shine in Bellichick’s short passing scheme. Down the stretch of the regular season and especially in the three playoff games he won on the road, Brady showed the touch and depth of the best. In mentality, no one can beat it.
“You get here and you just want to do your job, and that’s what we did. I’m proud of my teammates”, Brady said on the podium.
Things of fate, Tampa Bay became the first team to be local in the Super Bowl. Raymond James Stadium had been chosen as the venue for this match four years earlier.
Tom Brady won his seventh title, his first as a player for the Tampa Bay Bucaneers Source: File – Credit: AP Photo / Butch Dil
With seven Super Bowl titles, Brady did nothing more than extend the record he already held and which seems unattainable. Joe Montana (San Francisco 49ers) and Terry Bradshaw (Pittsburgh Steelers) follow with four. Of the active players, the only one with two is Ben Rothelisberg (Pittsburgh), who is 38 years old. He also won his fifth most valuable player award in the final (Super Bowl MVP) and became the second quarterback to reach the top with two different teams, emulating Peyton Manning (Indiana Colts and Denver Broncos).
“All titles are special,” continued Brady, surrounded by his three children and his wife, model Gisele Bündchen. “I don’t make any comparison. To have experienced it with this team is something spectacular.”
When he signed with the Bucs, jersey number 12 was owned. Brady was going to use 7. Why? Because I was going for the seventh ring. With that mentality he arrived at Tampa Bay, the most losing team in the history of the league (39.3% of effectiveness). Now they can say “Tampa Brady.” Finally Godwin gave him his historic number 12.
Patrick Mahomes is called to be Brady’s successor, but Sunday night did not have a good game Source: AP
Brady completed 21 of 29 passes (72.4% ERA) for 201 yards, three touchdowns with no interceptions. Numbers that are not as surprising as the coolness with which he led his team to an unexpectedly crushing victory.
Much was said about that if Mahomes got the title, he would be on the path of matching Brady, as he would have surpassed him as the youngest to win two Super Bowls. The 25-year-old wonder played his worst game as a professional (270 yards, 0 touchdowns, 2 interceptions), was weighed down by the Bucs defense and overshadowed by Brady’s greatness. He’s still the most electrifying player in the league, but the testimony pass will have to wait.
Before firing him, host Jim Nantz asked him if there would be Brady for another year. “You know the answer. I’m going to come back here.” Nobody doubts that it will be in search of more glory.
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