Tom Brady
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Former player Tom Brady looks on prior to the NFC Championship Game between the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles on January 26, 2025.
Former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady has a bird’s eye view of NFL quarterbacks these days as a broadcaster with FOX.
Set to begin his second season in the broadcast booth, Brady recently talked with Cris Collinsworth on his Pro Football Focus podcast. about NFL quarterback development. Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, played for the Patriots from 2000 to 2019 and the Buccaneers from 2020 to 2022 before his retirement and broadcast venture.
“I don’t believe the quarterback position is as mentally developed as it was when I entered the league 25 years ago,” Brady told Collinsworth.
Brady came in as a sixth-round draft pick when Kurt Warner and Brett Favre were among the best quarterbacks and Peyton Manning was just getting his career started. The three aforementioned quarterbacks rose to stardom after or in the twilight of other storied careers such as Steve Young and Troy Aikman.
“There was a premium on understanding defenses, on understanding matchups, on I’d say pre-snap reads, getting your team in and out of the right play,” Brady said, “and I felt the way I learned to play the position over a period of time… you’ll truly give your team the best chance to win, to be a field general.”
Tom Brady Excelled at the Mental Game
Tom Brady Julian Edelman
GettyTom Brady #12 and Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots celebrate after defeating the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 to win Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium on February 1, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona.
In the early years of Brady’s career and beforehand, the league was generally known to be less pass-oriented and many of today’s quarterbacks have passed legends statistically. Brady didn’t have the big arm of quarterbacks who came before him or since, but he placed a premium on strategy and set numerous passing records along the way.
“I think you better have a mental advantage on the field and I think sometimes that’s more important than the physical advantage,” Brady said.
His approach paid off amid 10 Super Bowl appearances, five Super Bowl MVPs, three regular season MVPs, 15 Pro Bowls, and his 215-82 record. Brady amassed 89,214 yards passing for 649 touchdowns versus 212 interceptions in his 23 seasons, and he completed 64.3% of his passes.
His postseason dominance was second to none with a 35-13 record amid 13,400 yards passing for 88 touchdowns versus 40 interceptions. Brady reached the AFC Championship Game in 13 of his 23 seasons.
Tom Brady Shares Concern For The Running QBs
While Brady has joked about his 40-yard dash time on many occasions, he sees pros and cons to the emphasis on the running quarterback today.
“Now did I wish I could have run? Of course I wished I could have run. But because I couldn’t run,” Brady joked.
Brady was a pocket passer and his running was quite minimal in his career. He rushed for 1,123 yards and 28 touchdowns in 23 seasons, which amounts to an average of 57 yards and a touchdown per season.
Last season alone, nine quarterbacks eclipsed 400 yards, and another four ran for more than 300 yards. Those top 13 rushers include the game’s biggest names — Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, and Jalen Hurts.
“I think it’s terrible for the longevity of a quarterback,” Brady said about his concern though he pivoted on that thought. “It’s certainly very exciting, and it’s fun to watch.”