11. Tom Brady
Team: New England Patriots
Position: QB
Experience: 19 Years
It doesn’t feel right to have the Greatest Quarterback of all time ranked 11th on any list, but Tom Brady is at that point in his career. He can still win games by making crucial throws in the 4th quarter, but his days of compiling tons of yards and touchdowns are past him. Throughout the Patriots playoff run in 2018, Brady proved that he still has what it takes to get the job done. He threw for over 300 yards per game over the three game playoff run, including some incredibly clutch 4th quarter throws vs the Chiefs and Rams.
As Brady just eclipsed 42 years of age, it is really remarkable that he is able to maintain his high level of play. Having mastermind Bill Belicheck as your Head Coach doesn’t hurt either, as he has significantly altered the offensive scheme as Brady ages. The last few years have seen the Patriots drastically cut down on their First Down Passing plays, electing to run the ball as much as possible. New England also invested in their offensive line, as Brady needs to be protected at all costs. PFF has the Patriots ranked as the 6th best offensive line unit in the NFL.
As long as the O-Line can protect Brady and keep him off the ground, there is no reason to believe he won’t continue his high level of play. He might not have as much power on his throws, but Brady is too competitive to let his play deteriorate. All this man knows is winning, as he is easily the most accomplished player in the history of the league. Brady has his own way of doing things, and because of his TB12 diet and ultra focus on nutrition, he is able to last longer than other QBs similar to himself.
Brady’s Hall of Fame career is one of the greatest achievements in all of sports. The man is a six-time Super Bowl Champion, four-time Super Bowl MVP and three-time League MVP. Joe Montana is the only QB with accolades anywhere near Brady. His sustained excellence and dominance throughout the AFC East shouldn’t go unnoticed as well. Since replacing Drew Bledsoe and becoming the starter in week 2 of 2001, Brady and the Patriots have won all but two of the AFC East titles. One of these losses came in 2008, when Brady was injured for the whole season.
Brady’s supremacy paired with one of the greatest coaches ever is a tandem that won’t be matched for years. With Brady playing well into his 40s, he is creating a new wave of health and sustainability that every young QB will be paying attention to. Nobody knows how long Brady will be able to continue playing at this level, but if you were to only learn one thing from this article it would be to never doubt Tom Brady, the 199th overall pick in the 6th round of the 2000 NFL Draft.
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