A History of Tom Brady's Visits to UCLA, Wasserman Football Center
If something seemed familiar about Tom Brady's latest viral video on July 25, 2021, that's because it was.
The now-former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback and seven-time Super Bowl champion posted a video of him working out at UCLA's Wasserman Football Center ahead of NFL training camp, and while many have since pointed out his throwing tricks were likely faked, he's still had plenty of other experience in Westwood.
Having a big-time NFL player like Brady on campus is far from out of the ordinary for the Bruins, who hosted workouts for him, Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham Jr., Antonio Brown and Ndamukong Suh in the 2018 offseason alone. Since the facility opened in 2017, Brady has made at least four separate trips to Wasserman, as he usually brings teammates with him and chats it up with UCLA student-athletes on the side.
Whether it's because of the Under Armour connection, his niece Maya Brady playing for UCLA softball or the fact it's the most expensive football practice facility in West Los Angeles, Tom Brady has turned Wasserman into somewhat of a home base in recent years. Another option is that Brady is living out an alternate reality in which he went to UCLA instead of Michigan, since the Bruins were actively recruiting him before Cade McNown committed and Brady canceled his official visit in January 1995.
Since that pairing never came to fruition on paper, Brady's legacy as a UCLA football player will remain tied to his appearances on the practice field.
Apr. 27, 2018
This was Brady's first documented visit to Wasserman, but he's not the one who publicized it.
It was Ginni Burton who drew the world's attention to Brady's presence in Westwood, and she's the mother of former UCLA backup quarterback Austin Burton, who's pictured on the far right. The Burton family has strong ties to Brady, since Burton's father spent decades covering the future Hall of Famer as the local CBS sports anchor in Boston, while his grandfather was the first-ever draft pick of the Boston Patriots back in 1960.
May 1, 2019
Ironically, Brady wasn't the only big name on campus on this day over two years ago.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama was speaking at Pauley Pavilion just a couple feet away from Wasserman. John Legend and Usher were also spotted on campus that day – nothing too crazy by UCLA standards, all things considered.
Pictured with Brady in his Instagram post, in the second photo, are Demetric Felton, Kyle Philips and Chase Cota, who got the chance to work out with the Super Bowl champion at Wasserman that day.
July 8, 2019
Walk-on quarterback Chase Artopoeus doesn't look like he was dressed to work out in these photos, so he probably wasn't a part of the throwing session Brady had with tight end Rob Gronkowski.
This would be Brady's last documented visit to Wasserman for almost two years, mostly thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. He could have practiced there at some point in that time gap, since the lack of people in and around the building means it could have simply gone under the radar.
June 7, 2021
Brady made his return to Wasserman in June 2021, bringing a recently retired Patriots teammate along with him – wide receiver Julian Edelman.
Linebacker Shea Pitts was able to snag a photo with each of them.
This also seems to have been the same day Brady filmed the video that went viral Sunday, considering he's wearing the same clothes and shoes in both posts.
The quarterback appears to be playing catch with a Jugs machine, tossing absolutely perfect spirals right into the slot on every throw. Some outlets started running with this video due to Brady's pinpoint accuracy, but people later poked holes in it and realized it was fake.
Still, Bruin fans far and wide immediately recognized the backdrop, one Brady has used time and time again.
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