Tom Brady reaching 400 career touchdown passes isn’t a huge deal to the New England Patriots, who are more focused on vying for another Super Bowl title than on individual accolades.
But that doesn’t mean the quarterback’s teammates aren’t impressed.
Rob Gronkowski has caught more regular-season touchdown passes from Brady (58) than any other player, so the Patriots tight end knows as well as anyone the preparation that goes into achieving such sustained success. Brady is one of only four players in NFL history to throw 400 career touchdown passes — he joined Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Dan Marino on Sunday — and plenty more TDs undoubtedly are in the cards, as the 38-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down.
“Unbelievable,” Gronkowski said after Sunday’s 51-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium. “He works hard every single day he comes in. Hats off to him. He deserves everything he gets.”
Brady seems to reach a new milestone each week, which certainly adds to his legacy as perhaps the greatest quarterback in NFL history. His impact goes well beyond the box score, though. Few players, if any, have had Brady’s leadership qualities and knack for elevating the players around him.
“Just coming out and always being prepared. There’s never a day he slacks and isn’t ready,” Gronkowski said. “That’s huge. He gets everyone focused every single day and he never misses a beat.”
Danny Amendola, not Gronkowski, caught Brady’s 400th career touchdown pass, after which the wide receiver accidentally gave the football to a fan. Amendola said after Sunday’s game the ball had since been retrieved, but Brady wasn’t concerned at all. And that’s hardly surprising to Gronk, who couldn’t help but chuckle about Amendola’s milestone mishap.
“I guess Brady will have to go to 500,” Gronkowski said. “Oh well, I guess. We’re not really worried about that. We’re worried about getting the win.”
Brady has plenty of those, too.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
