Tom Brady meant more to the game than just being the greatest player to ever grace a football field, and the most accomplished winner the sport had ever seen. What he leaves behind, what he represented as an athlete, transcends sport.
The greatest of all time. It’s tough to beat walking away with that label as your lasting legacy. The GOAT. It certainly fits Tom Brady. No one was better than the player the Patriots took with the 199th pick in the 2000 draft. But he meant more to the game than just being the greatest to ever grace a football field and the most accomplished winner the sport has ever seen. What he leaves behind, what he represented as an athlete, transcends sport. Now that he’s decided to walk away, Brady leaves an indelible memory – and plenty of proof – that just about anything is possible. Think you can’t be an effective quarterback at 40 or after? Think you can’t reach the pinnacle when people are predicting that you’re going to fall off the proverbial cliff? His last two Super Bowl wins came at ages 41 and 43. The two before that came at ages 37 and 39. Father Time used to win. Always. But not with Brady, who formally announced his retirement via social media Tuesday. He blew the age myth out of the water. He played at a high level up to and including his final year at age 44. With 22 NFL seasons, he’s given new meaning to longevity. Perhaps that inspires others to keep going, to take better care of their bodies. “What comes to mind is the influence he’s had on people’s lives. Giving people hope, giving players like Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers and those (older) guys, hope they can play well into their 40s,” said Patriots Hall of Famer Rodney Harrison, who won two championships with Brady. “I’ve heard Aaron Rodgers say Tom’s the inspiration… now Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes and these guys, they’re not thinking I’m going to play 10 or 12 years and be done. They’re now thinking they can reach between 15 and 20 years. “This is what Tom’s instilled across the league, what happens and what you can do if you take care of yourself.” All true, and there’s even more that’s attached to Brady’s legacy.
