Nobody was more competitive than Tom Brady. Here are some of the best examples.
Tom Brady.AP Photo/Rich Schultz
- Tom Brady announced his retirement from the NFL after 22 seasons.
- Brady will go down as the greatest quarterback of all-time, but he may also be considered one of the greatest competitors in NFL history.
- Over the course of his career, stories of Brady's relentless work ethic, drive, temper, and more have painted a picture of a fiery competitor.
Former Patriot Dan Koppen said that Brady is the most competitive person he's ever met.
Tom Brady. AP Photo/Rich Schultz
Source: CSNNE
Former teammate Darrelle Revis described Brady's desire to win as a "sickness."
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Even Brady's retirement announcement seemed to show his competitiveness: it featured a photo of Brady's win over the Patriots as a member of the Bucs in 2021.
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It started in high school for Brady. He used to have his high school teammates over his house to study film while his mom made them lunch.
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But it wasn't always easy. He hired a psychologist to deal with the stress of being the seventh-string QB when he first got to Michigan.
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Brady knew he'd be great, even though he was a sixth-round draft pick. When he was drafted, he told Patriots owner Robert Kraft that the Patriots would never regret drafting him.
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Source: Howard Stern
He told his high-school coach after getting drafted that if he ever got the chance to start in the NFL, the Patriots would never go back to Drew Bledsoe.
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Source: USA Today
And when Brady finally got the starting job, he told his backup it was no sweat. "I'm going to be one of the best at this game," he said.
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Source: ESPN
Brady's competitiveness extends off the field. Former Patriots backup Damon Huard said Brady once gave his teammates a pep-talk to make sure they wouldn't lose to a group of local firemen in a charity basketball game.
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Former Patriots receiver Danny Amendola said Brady once broke a ping pong paddle after losing a game.
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Source: ESPN
Huard called Brady a "psychotic competitor," referencing a time Brady threw a backgammon board across the room because he lost.
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Source: WEEI
And Brady used to break video-game controllers as a rookie.
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Bill Belichick said during a round of golf, Brady once hung over a cliff to retrieve his ball. The head coach watched, baffled, as his franchise quarterback dangled over a cliff as a caddy held him up.
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He doesn't take losing well. Brady admitted that he had to work on his body language so as not to be too hard on his teammates.
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Don't ask Brady to play a game of catch: He'll drill the ball at you from 5 yards away, according to Brandon LaFell.
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Before afternoon games, Brady makes receivers prepare to stare into the sun by catching balls from the direction where the sun will shine during the game.
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After making the Super Bowl during the 2016 season, Brady stayed up until 1:30 A.M. studying the Falcons' roster.
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Former Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer said Brady is an ace beer-chugger and wins chugging contests. "You couldn't have poured out the beer faster into a glass," Hoyer said.
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Source: ESPN
Brady micromanaged his life to play at an age when others retire. He had toyed with the idea of playing into his 50s.
Tom Brady. AP Photo/Danny Karnik
When asked about retirement, Brady once quipped, "What am I going to do, go scuba diving?"
Tom Brady warms up for a game against the New York Jets. AP Photo/Adam Hunger
He would go to bed at 8:30 and do brain exercises so he can wake up without an alarm.
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He's followed a strict diet for years. Avocado ice cream is a treat, and he even stays away from foods like peppers, tomatoes, and mushrooms.
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He kept improving. Brady worked to get quicker, and at age 39, said he was faster than he was coming out of college.
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He has a healthy respect for good competition. Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett said Brady compliments players who sack him.
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And former Patriot Dante Stallworth said that Brady would pay practice-squad players who intercepted him.
Tom Brady. AP Photo/Jason Behnken
Opponents say he's one of the only quarterbacks who will mix it up and talk trash.
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Source: CSNNE
But don't taunt him too much. A college friend said Brady once leveled an opponent during an intramural basketball game because he was trash-talking Tom.
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Source: Providence Journal
Don't ask him to sign a photo where his mechanics look bad — he won't do it.
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Brady once used "Joker! Rex Ryan, Rex Ryan!" as an audible call as a shot against the Buffalo Bills coach.
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If you're on time, you're late. Former Patriots Rodney Harrison said Brady goaded him into working out at 5:30 A.M. by saying "Good afternoon!" every time Harrison arrived at 6:30 A.M.
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Source: ESPN
Brady said nothing relieves his anger like a good F-bomb tirade.
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Read more: Tom Brady explains why he loves the F-word
His emails revealed that he called ESPN analyst Mark Brunell a "Patriot hater" for doubting Brady's case in Deflategate.
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When Brady was suspended for Deflategate, he couldn't be around the team. He apparently called up former Patriots receiver Wes Welker to play catch with him so he could stay sharp.
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He called his first game back from his Deflategate suspension "rusty." He threw for over 400 yards and three touchdowns.
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Before the 2018 AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Brady reportedly walked into the locker room and called himself "the baddest motherf----- on the planet."
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Brady's teammates said every practice is like a game because Brady is so intense.
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Over the years, Brady and Rob Gronkowski's cocky, post-victory walks out of the arena became a staple of the postseason.
via Tom Brady/Instagram
There will never be another Tom Brady.
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