Top 5 Highlights That Made Tom Brady the ‘GOAT’

After 22 successful seasons as one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time, Tom Brady announced his retirement Tuesday morning via social media.

In a statement, Brady discussed the “competitive commitment” that is required of an athlete when playing football. He went on to say there are “no shortcuts to success on the field or in life.”

The former Patriots and Buccaneers quarterback accrued an exceptional resume’ over his years in the NFL. Brady is a seven-time Super Bowl champion, five-time Super Bowl MVP, three-time NFL MVP, NFL Offensive Player of the year twice, and the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

He has broken countless individual records, including most pass completions in a season with 485 as well as the longest touchdown pass at 99 yards, (which certainly can never be broken).

Regardless of his impressive Hall of Fame accomplishments, Brady had incredible plays throughout his time in the NFL. Below are the top five plays and games of Brady’s career that attribute to his “GOAT” status.

Honorable Mention: Super Bowl LV

This was Brady’s last Super Bowl win with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - and by virtue, his last Super Bowl ever. The 11-5 Buccaneers were in their home stadium for the Super Bowl, the first time in NFL history that had happened, against the 14-2 Kansas City Chiefs in an exciting matchup between two eras of great football quarterbacks. The Buccaneers dominated four quarters of football as they won 31-9, holding the Chiefs to only three field goals.

Brady heavily aided in that win when he was 21-for-29 for 201 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He proved with this win that he only got better with age.

5. 2017 AFC Championship Game

Brady came into this game with a hand injury, but that meant nothing as he engineered a comeback victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The visiting Jaguars got off to a 14-3 lead. Before the half, former Patriots tight end and Brady’s right-hand man, tight end Rob Gronkowski, was out of the game due to a concussion. The Jaguars held onto their lead going into the fourth quarter. The score was 20-10 and the Jaguars defense kept Brady and Co. off the field.

This didn’t faze Brady too much. On an important third-and-18, Brady connected with wide receiver Danny Amendola to move the sticks for a first down. A 31-yard pass to wide receiver Phillip Dorsett led the Patriots to a touchdown. Two drives later, the Patriots were up 24-20, to which they held onto and won the game.

The Patriots would later advance to Super Bowl LII in a rematch with the Philadelphia Eagles, which the Eagles won, 41-33.

4. Super Bowl XXXVI

The Patriots were 14-point underdogs against the St. Louis Rams. However, the Patriots were the ones leading by 14 to end the first half. Then it was a tale of two halves as the Rams came fighting back to tie the game with a little over a minute left on the clock. So, Brady got to work.

Brady was cool and collected with 81 seconds to spare on the clock. He completed 5-of-7 passes for 53 yards before spiking the ball within field-goal range to have kicker Adam Vinatieri seal the victory. At just 24 years old, Brady won the first of his seven Super Bowls.

3. Tuck Rule Game - Playoff Debut

This game was a highlight for Brady for many reasons. Not only was it one of the NFL’s most controversial moments in postseason history, but it was also the first of many playoff wins for Brady.

The Patriots trailed the Oakland Raiders, 13-10, with a little under two minutes to go. Former Michigan teammate and Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson, knocked the Ball out of Brady’s hand. The Raiders recovered the fumble only to have the fumble call reversed on replay because of the Tuck Rule. Brady was able to bounce back and the Patriots tied the game on a field goal by Adam Vinatieri ion a snow-covered field. In overtime, Brady completed eight straight passes which was good enough to set up Vinatieri to win the game.

2. Super Bowl LI

In the most iconic Super Bowl of Brady’s career - and one of the biggest memes in NFL history - the Patriots came back from a 25-point deficit to win the game over the Atlanta Falcons.

Going into the half, the Falcons led 21-3, thanks to an unstoppable offense as well as an 82-yard interception for a touchdown. By the middle of the third quarter, the Falcons had stretched the lead to 28-3.

Again, that did not faze Brady as he and the team got to work heading into the fourth quarter. Brady helped put up 19 points in the final quartter, tying the game with a minute to go on the clock. In overtime, Brady completed five passes to push the Patriots to victory, 34-28. This historic game became the biggest comeback for a team in Super Bowl history.

1. Patriots 2007 Season

This was Tom Brady’s most perfect season with the Patriots as he and wide receiver Randy Moss were unstoppable. Improving from a 12-4 record the previous season, the Patriots went undefeated in their record-breaking regular season. They beat Washington, 52-7, and the Buffalo Bills, 56-10.

Brady broke his own individual records with the highest completion percentage of his career (68.9), threw the most touchdown passes of his career (50), and had the highest passer rating of his career (117.2). Though he didn’t get to raise the Lombardi Trophy, Brady was awarded the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award, the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award, and was elected first-team All-Pro, among other awards. This was a historic season for the Patriots that Tom Brady helped cultivate.