ABAB Pedia

Tom Brady

Tom Brady is an American retired football quarterback, sports broadcaster and investor. He played for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning seven Super Bowls across twenty-three NFL seasons. His subsequent work includes sports broadcasting, team ownership and sports-related business ventures.

Contents41 sections
Key facts

Birth in California

Tom Brady was born in San Mateo, California.⁠[1]

High School Football and Baseball

At Junipero Serra High School, he played football and baseball, starting at quarterback in 1993–1994. The Montreal Expos selected him as a catcher in the eighteenth round of the 1995 baseball draft.⁠[1]

Starting Quarterback at Michigan

He started at quarterback in his final two seasons at Michigan. In 1999, he captained the team alongside Rob Renes and Steve Hutchinson, establishing himself amid competition with Drew Henson. He later described his teammates’ choice of him as captain as an especially meaningful honour.⁠[1][2]

Orange Bowl Victory

He helped Michigan beat Alabama 35–34 in overtime in the Orange Bowl, throwing four touchdown passes, including an overtime score to Shawn Thompson.⁠[2]

NFL Draft

The New England Patriots selected him in the sixth round of the NFL draft, 199th overall.⁠[3]

First NFL Start

After Drew Bledsoe was injured the previous week, Brady made his first NFL start as the Patriots beat the Indianapolis Colts 44–13. His postgame remarks addressed preparation and support from teammates.⁠[4][5]

First Super Bowl Title

The Patriots beat the St. Louis Rams 20–17 in Super Bowl XXXVI, giving Brady his first title.⁠[6]

Consecutive Championships

The Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers 32–29 on February 1, 2004, then the Philadelphia Eagles 24–21 on February 6, 2005, giving Brady three Super Bowl titles in four years.⁠[6]

Unbeaten Regular Season and First MVP

The Patriots went 16–0 in the regular season. Brady threw a then-record 50 touchdown passes and won season MVP. They lost the Super Bowl 14–17 to the New York Giants on February 3, 2008.⁠[6]

Injury, Return and Second MVP

A knee injury in the 2008 opener sent him to injured reserve. He won Comeback Player of the Year for 2009, then became the first unanimous Associated Press NFL MVP for the 2010 season.⁠[7][8][9]

Fourth Super Bowl Title

The Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks 28–24 for Brady’s fourth Super Bowl title.⁠[10]

Deflategate and Brady’s Response

The NFL imposed a four-game suspension over the AFC Championship game ball-pressure controversy. In July, Brady denied wrongdoing or knowledge of it and denied destroying his phone to obstruct the investigation.⁠[11][12]

Suspension Reinstated and Appeal Ended

On April 25, the Second Circuit reinstated the four-game suspension, finding that the commissioner acted within his arbitration authority under the collective bargaining agreement. The review concerned arbitration authority and procedure rather than a fresh ball-pressure investigation. On July 15, Brady ended his legal challenge.⁠[11][13]

Religion of Sports

He collaborated with Michael Strahan on Religion of Sports, a documentary series examining sport’s relationship with faith, culture and people’s lives. It premiered on Audience Network on November 15.⁠[14]

Comeback for a Fifth Title

The Patriots recovered from a 3–28 deficit and beat the Atlanta Falcons 34–28 in overtime for their fifth Super Bowl title.⁠[10]

The TB12 Method

Simon & Schuster published The TB12 Method, presenting his ideas on training, nutrition, hydration and mental preparation. He also co-founded the TB12 business with Alex Guerrero.⁠[15]

Third Season MVP

He received his third Associated Press NFL MVP; the Patriots then lost the Super Bowl to the Philadelphia Eagles.⁠[10]

Sixth Super Bowl Title

A 13–3 Patriots victory over the Los Angeles Rams gave Brady his sixth Super Bowl title.⁠[10]

Launching 199 Productions

He announced 199 Productions, named after his draft position, and plans to develop a project with the Russo brothers and AGBO.⁠[16]

Joining Tampa Bay

After twenty seasons with the Patriots, he signed a multiyear free-agent contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the second team of his professional career.⁠[17]

Seventh Super Bowl Title

The Buccaneers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 31–9, becoming the first team to win a Super Bowl in its home stadium. Brady earned his seventh championship and fifth Super Bowl MVP.⁠[18]

FTX Partnership

FTX announced a long-term partnership with Brady and his then-wife Gisele Bündchen. Brady became a brand ambassador, with equity and cryptocurrency compensation included in the arrangement.⁠[19]

Career High in Passing Yards

He passed for a career-high 5,316 regular-season yards and led the league with 43 touchdown passes.⁠[20]

Retirement and Return

He announced retirement on February 1, reversed that decision on March 13, and returned to the Buccaneers for his twenty-third NFL season.⁠[3]

Divorce Announcement

Brady and Gisele Bündchen announced their divorce.⁠[3]

FTX Promotion Litigation

After FTX collapsed, investors named Brady among celebrity-promoter defendants in a class action concerning promotion of the exchange. The claims were civil allegations.⁠[21]

Ending a Twenty-Three-Season Career

He announced retirement by video again, saying this decision was final. Across twenty-three NFL seasons, he won seven Super Bowls, five Super Bowl MVPs and three Associated Press NFL MVPs, with fifteen Pro Bowl selections. His regular-season totals reached 89,214 passing yards and 649 touchdown passes.⁠[22]

Las Vegas Aces Ownership

On March 23, the Las Vegas Aces announced his purchase of an ownership interest, then subject to WNBA approval. The team’s current front-office directory lists him among its owners.⁠[23][24]

Birmingham City Investment

He partnered with Knighthead to become a minority owner of Birmingham City Ltd and chair its new advisory board. The announcement described work on sports nutrition, recovery systems, global marketing and commercial partnerships.⁠[25]

Brands Merge with NOBULL

He announced the merger of his TB12 nutrition business and Brady Brand apparel with sportswear company NOBULL.⁠[26]

Patriots Hall of Fame

He became the thirty-fifth member of the Patriots team Hall of Fame, with the induction ceremony at Gillette Stadium.⁠[27]

FOX NFL Commentary

He began working as FOX’s lead NFL analyst alongside Kevin Burkhardt. His first season included Dallas against Cleveland in Week One and the Buccaneers–Eagles game on September 29.⁠[20]

Raiders Investment Approved

NFL team owners unanimously approved his purchase of a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, following an agreement reached in 2023.⁠[28]

Acquiring Half of CardVault

CardVault announced that he had acquired a 50% stake and that the business would operate as CardVault by Tom Brady. It retails sports cards and memorabilia.⁠[29]

Partial Dismissal in FTX Litigation

The Southern District of Florida dismissed twelve of fourteen claims against celebrity and online-promoter defendants, allowing amendment, while permitting two Florida and Oklahoma securities-law claims to proceed. The court found allegations of knowledge or fraudulent intent inadequate. This was not a final disposition of all claims.⁠[30]

Response to Amended FTX Claims

Brady and other defendants again sought dismissal, arguing that platform advertising did not constitute solicitation of particular securities purchases and raising securities-status, state-law and arbitration defences. This filing was a defence motion, not a ruling accepting those arguments.⁠[31]

School of Hard Knocks Interview

School of Hard Knocks published an interview connected with CardVault in Chicago, covering his career, business development, pressure and handling setbacks.⁠[32]

Team Statue Unveiled

The Patriots unveiled a statue honouring him in the plaza outside Gillette Stadium.⁠[33]

TB12 Transition

He announced TB12’s wind-down and transition to NOBULL Nutrition.⁠[34]

Website, X and YouTube

Sources

  1. Tom Brady Official New England Patriots Bio (2000–2019) (opens in a new window)
  2. A Season of Firsts: Recalling U-M’s 2000 Orange Bowl Victory (opens in a new window)
  3. Tom Brady Retires at 45 For Good: Career Timeline (opens in a new window)
  4. Pre-Game Report (opens in a new window)
  5. Tom Brady Press Conference (opens in a new window)
  6. History of the New England Patriots: 2000–2009 (opens in a new window)
  7. Brady Named Patriots’ 2009 Ed Block Courage Award Winner (opens in a new window)
  8. Brady Wins AP Comeback Player of the Year (opens in a new window)
  9. Brady Named NFL MVP for the Second Time (opens in a new window)
  10. History of the New England Patriots: 2010–Current (opens in a new window)
  11. NFL Management Council v. NFL Players Association, No. 15-2801 (opens in a new window)
  12. Tom Brady Statement on Goodell Ruling (opens in a new window)
  13. Tom Brady Says He Will Not Appeal His Deflategate Suspension (opens in a new window)
  14. Strahan Creates TV History with Tom Brady (opens in a new window)
  15. The TB12 Method (opens in a new window)
  16. Tom Brady anuncia la creación de una productora y el lanzamiento de un documental (opens in a new window)
  17. Buccaneers Sign QB Tom Brady in Free Agency (opens in a new window)
  18. 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season: Super Bowl LV Champions (opens in a new window)
  19. FTX, Tom Brady & Gisele Bündchen Announce Long-Term Partnership (opens in a new window)
  20. Broadcaster Tom Brady to Call First Bucs Game with Eagles in Town (opens in a new window)
  21. Shaquille O’Neal to Pay $1.8 Million to Settle FTX Class Action Lawsuit (opens in a new window)
  22. Tom Brady Retires For Good (opens in a new window)
  23. Seven-Time Super Bowl Champion Tom Brady Acquires Ownership Interest in Aces (opens in a new window)
  24. Front Office (opens in a new window)
  25. Tom Brady Invests in Birmingham City Football Club (opens in a new window)
  26. Tom Brady’s TB12, Brady Brand Merge with Athletic Apparel Company NoBull (opens in a new window)
  27. Tom Brady (opens in a new window)
  28. Tom Brady’s Purchase of a Minority Stake in the Las Vegas Raiders Is Approved by NFL Team Owners (opens in a new window)
  29. Tom Brady Takes Ownership Stake in CardVault (opens in a new window)
  30. In re FTX Cryptocurrency Exchange Collapse Litigation — Order of May 7, 2025 (opens in a new window)
  31. FTX Litigation — Sports and Entertainment Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss (opens in a new window)
  32. Asking One of the Richest Men in the NFL How He Got Rich! (opens in a new window)
  33. Photos: Best of Tom Brady Statue Ceremony (opens in a new window)
  34. Tom Brady Says TB12 Is Winding Down in Email Update to Subscribers (opens in a new window)
  35. 199 — Tom Brady (opens in a new window)
  36. Tom Brady — YouTube (opens in a new window)
  37. Tom Brady — X (opens in a new window)