Look, we’re running out of ways to explain what Tom Brady is doing.
That he’s still playing at age 43 is an accomplishment in itself. Still winning Super Bowl titles? Absolutely bananas.
Yet that’s the reality. Brady, the greatest quarterback in NFL history, just secured his seventh ring in his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He won six across 20 years with the New England Patriots.
Amazingly, Brady is showing no signs of slowing down. Now, playing until age 45 not only is possible. It’s a near certainty. The only real question is whether Brady will continue beyond that, because it’s hard to imagine him calling it quits if he’s still performing at a high level.
The Boston Sports Info Twitter account (@bostonsportsinf) shared a tweet Wednesday that put Brady’s wild longevity into perspective.
Basically, it’s a list of other legendary athletes — in the NFL and other sports — who’ve already punched their tickets to the Hall of Fame despite being born after Brady:
Kobe Bryant — NBA
Steve Hutchinson — NFL
Brian Urlacher — NFL
Champ Bailey — NFL
Edgerrin James — NFL
Ed Reed — NFL
Marian Hossa — NHL
Tracy McGrady — NBA
LaDainian Tomlinson — NFL
Yao Ming — NBA
Troy Polamalu — NFL
Calvin Johnson — NFL
This obviously is meant to show that while those incredible athletes are years removed from their respective playing careers, to the point where they were eligible for Hall of Fame enshrinement, Brady still is thriving between the lines with no finish line in sight.
Simply put: There’s nothing left for Brady to prove. At this point, he’s just running up the score in terms of who’s the GOAT. His résumé is unmatched, and he’ll undoubtedly enter the Hall of Fame soon after he closes the book on his illustrious NFL career.
Then again, he might never close said book. Or, when he finally does, it’ll only be after the above list grows to include a few more notable names.
