After 21 seasons, there is not a lot you don’t know about Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback.
As he prepares for his 10th Super Bowl appearance, and first with the Floridian team, we’ve put together 10 trivia facts about the six time Super Bowl champion.
1 – He’s Possibly the Worst Athlete in his Family
If you’ve seen the guy run, it should come as no surprise considering he looks like the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz.
His sisters were all accomplished athletes in their own right, in high school he was always known as the little brother of his much more athletically accomplished older siblings.
Somehow we get the feeling he’s not known as “The Little Brady” anymore.
2 – His High School Team Sucked
High School sports in the US can be brutal, just ask Brady.
Even with the kid who would go on to become the greatest quarterback of all time, his first season playing for Serra High School saw the team go 0-8 and not score a single touchdown.
Brady couldn’t beat out the incumbent starter at quarterback and didn’t take a single snap and only got the starting job the next season because the kid ahead of him on the depth chart had enough for losing and went to play another sport.
3 – His College Coach Didn’t Rate Him
Thankfully for Brady, he got to go to one of the college powerhouses after high school, where he began his career as the seventh-choice quarterback.
Eventually he worked his way into the starting lineup… but had to battle a prodigy by the name of Drew Henson and was forced to share time to keep Henson from quitting college to go play baseball for the Yankees.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick even said that a big reason Brady fell in the NFL draft process was that his coach kept trying to replace him.
When Brady did get the chance to play he put together an impressive highlight reel.
Aside from being about 22 years too old, he could easily suit up for the Wolverines next season & help ease the pressure on coach Jim Harbaugh.
4 – He Could Have Played Baseball
Despite being a right handed passer in the NFL, Brady put together quite a strong baseball resume growing up as a left handed batter.
He was drafted by the Montreal Expos (before they became the Washington Nationals) and they offered him a hefty rookie contract however Brady turned them down to focus on his football career.
Maybe after he retires from the NFL he could go and hit a few home runs?
5 – He Loves His Avocado Ice Cream
Brady attributes his longevity to a strict training regimen and somewhat bizarre diet.
Allegedly he tries to avoid fruits, mushrooms, tomatoes, peppers, dairy, coffee and several other things that most people would consider staples (although a cheeseburger or two is allowed on a cheat day).
Perhaps the most bizarre replacement is avocado ice cream instead of the normal dairy kind.
Whatever works for him… and this seems to be.
6 – 12 Wasn’t His First Choice Number
We now know him as TB12 but it could have been a very different nickname for Brady had a few things been different when he was drafted.
After wearing number 10 at Michigan, Brady couldn’t carry his college number into the pros with punter Lee Johnson owning that jersey, forcing the rookie into choosing a new number.
Instead of going with the number 16 of his boyhood idol Joe Montana (and former Patriots backup Scott Zolak), Brady chose 12 and made sure that he made it his own.
When he signed with Tampa Bay, Brady almost had to change his number again, however receiver Chris Godwin was happy to vacate 12 for him.
7 – He Is Not Lacking for Confidence
Most 6th round draft picks are just happy to scrape onto the roster and grind out a career.
As a rookie, Brady went up to Patriots owner Robert Kraft (who mistook him for Kyle Brady, a tight end then of the Jacksonville Jaguars) and said “I’m the best decision your franchise has ever made.”
Big talk but he’s definitely backed it up, of course letting Brady leave last year may not have been the best decision the Patriots have made.
8 – He’s a Part Owner of Under Armour
They say timing is everything and Tom Brady was arguably Under Armour’s biggest signing when he joined the company in 2010.
Instead of just taking a set fee for the endorsement, Brady opted for a stake in the company and 11 seasons later, he still proudly wears their gear on the field.
9 – He Prefers Pliability Over Muscle
You won’t see Tom Brady fronting up for a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe anytime soon with his rig.
Not that it seems to matter, Brady has put together his own training regimen so instead of trying to look like another Hemsworth brother, he goes for pliability.
It apparently helps him take big hits like this one.
10 – His Favourite Super Bowl is “The Next One”
Seriously, the guy is never satisfied.