Tom Brady is in 7th Heaven
All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The ability to perform at your best when it's needed most is a trait shared by virtually all of the greatest sportspeople of all time. Jordan, Woods, Messi, Federer, Tendulkar – all of these guys thrived on the big moments.
En route to winning his record 7th Superbowl, Tom Brady couldn't have personified that trait more.
A little over halfway through his first season with the Buccaneers, Brady, aged 43, was probably questioning his decision to continue his Tampa Bay career.
His new team had lost three of their past four games heading into the bye week, including a 38-3 defeat at the hands of the Saints – the worst loss in Brady's career – and at 7-5, their season was teetering. Though they appeared likely to earn a wildcard place in the playoffs, they hardly looked the part of a Superbowl contender.
Maize & Blue Nation, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Enter Brady. Dissatisfied and frankly unfamiliar with just making up the numbers, he would ensure they wouldn't lose all season again.
He hit a remarkable run of form to lead the Buccaneers to four consecutive wins to end the regular season, earning them the 5th seed in the NFC.
And he wasn't done. The Bucs' run continued as they beat first Washington, then the Saints and the Packers to book themselves in for an appointment with the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Brady was up against Patrick Mahomes, the 25-year-old successor to Brady's throne – but the GOAT showed he wasn't ready to vacate that seat just yet.
The Buccaneers – who the year prior won just seven games and missed the playoffs – dominated from the outset, going on to win 31-9 and earning Brady an incredible 7th ring.
Brad Muckenthaler, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
He's the only player in history to need both of his hands to wear them all, and an extraordinary 18 years now separates his first from his most recent – we daren't say last.
Whatever the sport, the best of the best separate themselves from the pack by what they do in the biggest moments.
And as Tom Brady just reminded us, he exemplifies that as much, if not more, as anyone in history.
We salute Tom's perseverance and can't wait to see what the future holds for this legend!
Oh, by the way - did someone say that he can never win a Super Bowl ring outside of New England?
Share our story below!