Emmitt Smith: Tom Brady has found 'the fountain of youth'
- Tom Brady has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL for more than two decades.
- Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith told Insider he's quite impressed with Brady's longevity.
Tom Brady's 23rd NFL season concluded with a playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys on January 16.
With his future up in the air — a return to the Buccaneers, a jump to another team, or another retirement likely all in play — the GOAT has so far given no hints as to his plans in the off-season.
Whatever he decides, Brady has already impressed Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith. Speaking with Insider while promoting his partnership with Bounty paper towels ahead of the Super Bowl, Smith couldn't help but be awed by the seven-time Super Bowl champ.
"No one has ever seen this happen before," Smith said, when asked for his thoughts on Brady's play this past year.
"Not only is he playing at the age of 45, soon to be 46, but he's still playing at a high level. You saw the deep ball that he threw to Mike Evans. He hit him in stride."
Smith was referring to Brady's connection with Evans in their Week 18 finale against the Carolina Panthers, where Evans finished with 10 receptions for 207 yards and three touchdowns, all thrown by Brady.
"We look for athletes to deteriorate physically as they get older," Smith told Insider. "He has not deteriorated. Whatever he's doing is something that should be evaluated for society. Because he's found the fountain of youth.
"When you have someone that's doing something so different, for so much longer, than most people that have ever played a game, it warrants an evaluation," Smith said. "You want to replicate that not only just for other athletes, but other humans too."
Brady's long-term health has been nothing short of incredible. At the age of 45, Brady still ranked third in the league in passing yards, and led the league in pass attempts.
Further, given the amount of playoff action Brady has seen over the course of his career, his body is carrying the blows of closer to 25 NFL seasons.
And yet somehow, he remains upright, throwing, and still looking like one of the best field generals in the league. While the Buccaneers offense didn't deliver this year, Brady's arm and vision still were working on an elite level.
Brady's attention to his health has long been the subject of attention, including his fixation on hydration and a strict diet that famously forbade strawberries.
While his methods might seem extreme, it's difficult to argue with the results. With every passing season that Brady stays on the field, the TB12 Method becomes more and more appealing to other players reaching the later stage of their career.