Career Timeline of Tom Brady: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Tom Brady built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Tom Brady is a retired American football quarterback, renowned as one of the greatest of all time. He played 23 seasons in the NFL, initially with the New England Patriots where he spearheaded a dominant dynasty from 2001-2019, winning multiple Super Bowls. He concluded his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady's unparalleled success and longevity have solidified his legacy in football history.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1972: Patriots Matched Undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins

In the Patriots' first playoff game in 2007, a Divisional Round game against the Jaguars, they matched the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only team to win 17 consecutive games in one season.

1978: First Undefeated Regular Season Since 1978

In 2007, Tom Brady led the Patriots to the first undefeated regular season since the 16-game schedule was implemented in 1978.

1990: Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year

In 2007, Tom Brady was honored by the Associated Press as their Male Athlete of the Year, the first time an NFL player earned the honor since Joe Montana in 1990.

1995: Drafted by Montreal Expos

In 1995, Tom Brady was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 18th round of the MLB Draft.

September 28, 1996: First Collegiate Game Appearance

On September 28, 1996, Tom Brady made his first appearance in a collegiate game for Michigan; his first pass attempt was intercepted and returned for a touchdown.

1998: Shared Big Ten Title

In 1998, Tom Brady set Michigan records for most pass attempts and completions in a season, and Michigan shared the Big Ten title.

1999: Citrus Bowl Win

In 1999, Tom Brady capped the season with a 45-31 win over Arkansas in the Citrus Bowl.

1999: Battled for Starting Job

In the 1999 season, Tom Brady continued to battle with Drew Henson for the starting quarterback job at Michigan, eventually securing the position.

2000: Rookie Season

During the 2000 season, Tom Brady started as the fourth-string quarterback for the Patriots but rose to second-string by the season's end, behind Drew Bledsoe. In his rookie season, he completed only one of three passes for six yards. Tight end Rod Rutledge caught Brady's first and only completed pass of the season in a 34–9 loss to the Detroit Lions.

2000: Orange Bowl Victory

In 2000, Tom Brady led Michigan to an overtime win in the Orange Bowl over Alabama, throwing for 369 yards and four touchdowns and setting a BCS bowl game record with 35 completions.

2000: Drafted by the New England Patriots

In 2000, Tom Brady was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round as the 199th overall pick. He was a lightly regarded prospect, and the Patriots acquired a compensatory pick due to the loss of punter Tom Tupa. Brady and his family were surprised he wasn't drafted earlier and believed he would be drafted in the second or third round. Patriots owner Robert Kraft recalled meeting a skinny Brady carrying a pizza box and Brady declaring he was "the best decision this organization has ever made".

2001: First AFC Offensive Player of the Week Award

During the 2001 season, in the Patriots' fifth game, Tom Brady began to find his stride, leading the Patriots to a 29–26 victory over the San Diego Chargers. Brady finished the game with 33 of 54 passes completed for 364 yards and two touchdowns and was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for the first time. He later received a second nomination and finished the season with 2,843 passing yards and 18 touchdowns, earning an invitation to the Pro Bowl.

2001: Start of Brady-Belichick Era

In 2001, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick began their partnership, leading to the New England Patriots' dynasty, which is commonly referred to as the Brady-Belichick era.

2001: Beginning of Patriots Dynasty

In 2001, Tom Brady became a central contributor to the New England Patriots' dynasty.

2001: Brady Becomes Starting Quarterback

In the 2001 season, Drew Bledsoe started as the Patriots' quarterback. However, in their second game on September 23, 2001, Bledsoe suffered internal bleeding after a hit, leading to Brady replacing him in the game. Consequently, Brady was named the starting quarterback for the season's third game.

2002: Patriots Miss Playoffs

Despite Brady's absence due to injury in 2008, the Patriots finished with an 11–5 record; however, due to tiebreakers, the Patriots not only failed to win the AFC East division title, but missed the playoffs altogether for the first time since the 2002 season.

2002: First Super Bowl Win

In 2002, Tom Brady started in the Super Bowl XXXVI against the St. Louis Rams. The Patriots won 20–17 with a game-winning field goal by Adam Vinatieri. Brady was named Super Bowl MVP, throwing for 145 yards and one touchdown. He became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl at 24 years and 6 months. Bledsoe was traded to the Buffalo Bills in April 2002, solidifying Brady's role as the Patriots' starting quarterback.

2002: Buccaneers last playoff win

Tom Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, a team that had not won a playoff game since 2002.

2003: AFC Offensive Player of the Week Twice

After a 2-2 start to the 2003 season, Tom Brady led the Patriots to twelve consecutive victories, finishing at 14-2 to win the AFC East. He also recorded a 36-yard punt in Week 14. He won AFC Offensive Player of the Week twice, finishing with 3,620 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. He finished third in NFL MVP voting.

2003: Equaled Best Regular-Season Record

In 2003, Tom Brady and the Patriots finished with a 14-2 record, which was the best regular season record ever for a defending champion at the time. This record was later surpassed by the 2011 Green Bay Packers.

2003: Consecutive Super Bowl Title

In 2003, the Patriots won a consecutive title

2004: Set NFL Record with 21 Straight Wins

During the 2004 season, Tom Brady helped the Patriots set an NFL record with 21 straight wins, an accomplishment honored in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. New England finished with a 14–2 record, equaling their 2003 record. Brady threw for 3,692 yards and 28 touchdowns and was voted to his second Pro Bowl.

2004: Consecutive Super Bowl Title

In 2004, the Patriots won a consecutive title

2004: Super Bowl XXXIX Victory

In the 2004 NFL season, Tom Brady led the Patriots to Super Bowl XXXIX, where they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21, securing their third championship in four years. Brady threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

2004: Broke Peyton Manning's single-season record of 49 touchdown passes

In the last game of the 2007 season, Tom Brady threw his 50th touchdown of the season, breaking Peyton Manning's single-season record of 49 from 2004.

2005: AFC Offensive Player of the Week

During the 2005 season, Tom Brady won AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his Week 5 performance against the Falcons, where he threw for 350 yards and three touchdowns. He finished the season with 4,110 yards and 26 touchdowns, leading the league in passing yards. The Patriots finished with a 10–6 record, winning their third straight AFC East title. He was named to his third Pro Bowl.

2006: Brady Declines Pro Bowl Injury-Replacement Selection

In 2006, Tom Brady led the Patriots to a 12–4 record. He finished the regular season with 3,529 yards and 24 touchdowns. While not initially selected to the Pro Bowl, he declined an injury-replacement offer when Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers withdrew.

2007: Model for Stetson Cologne

In 2007, Brady was a model for the Stetson cologne.

2007: Perfect Passer Rating

In 2007, playing with an overhauled receiver corps, Tom Brady achieved one of the best seasons by a quarterback in NFL history. He led the Patriots to a 16–0 regular-season record, outscoring opponents by an average of 37–17. In a Week 6 game against the Dallas Cowboys, he had a career-high five passing touchdowns. In a Week 7 game against the Dolphins, he had a career-high six passing touchdowns and his first game with a perfect passer rating. Brady also threw for another three touchdowns, breaking Peyton Manning's record. Brady was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September and October, and the AFC Offensive Player of the Week five times.

2007: Buccaneers last reached the postseason

Tom Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, a team that had not reached the postseason since 2007.

2008: Serious Knee Injury

In the 2008 season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, Tom Brady's left knee was seriously injured, prematurely ending his season. He tore both his anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament. The injury ended Brady's streak of 111 consecutive starts. Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the ACL reconstruction on October 6.

October 18, 2009: Brady sets NFL record for most touchdowns in a quarter

On October 18, 2009, Tom Brady set an NFL record against the Titans for most touchdowns in a quarter, throwing five in the second quarter. He finished the game with six touchdowns and 380 yards, resulting in a near-perfect passer rating. The Patriots achieved a 59–0 victory, tying the record for the largest margin of victory since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Brady won AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Titans.

2009: Start of 11 Consecutive Division Titles

From 2009 to 2019, Tom Brady led the Patriots to 11 consecutive division titles.

2009: AFC Offensive Player of the Week

In the 2009 season opener against the Bills, his first game in more than a year, Tom Brady threw for 378 yards and two touchdowns. Brady and tight end Benjamin Watson connected on two straight touchdowns to lead the Patriots to a 25–24 win. He won AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.

September 10, 2010: Brady signs a four-year contract extension

On September 10, 2010, Tom Brady signed a four-year, $72 million contract extension with the NFL, making him the highest-paid player in the NFL. The extension included $48.5 million in guaranteed money.

2010: Green Bay Packers defended the 2010 championship season with a 15-1 record

In 2010, the Green Bay Packers won the championship and followed it up in 2011 by defending the championship season with a 15-1 record.

2011: Start of 8 Consecutive AFC Championship Game Appearances

From 2011 to 2018, Tom Brady led the Patriots to eight consecutive AFC Championship Games.

2011: Brady Selected for Pro Bowl but Undergoes Surgery

In 2011, Tom Brady was selected as a starter to the Pro Bowl but pulled out of the game after undergoing surgery for a stress fracture in his right foot dating back to 2008.

2011: Green Bay Packers Surpass Patriots' Record

In 2011, the Green Bay Packers surpassed the 2004 New England Patriots' record for best regular-season record for a defending champion, achieving a 15-1 record. The 2004 Patriots previously equaled the 2003 record with a 14-2 standing.

2011: Brady throws for career-high 517 yards in Week 1

In Week 1 of the 2011 season, Tom Brady threw for a career-high 517 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception in a 38–24 win over the Dolphins and earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. In the game, he threw a record-tying 99-yard touchdown pass to Wes Welker. Brady won AFC Offensive Player of the Week for the following game against the Chargers. He had 423 yards and three touchdowns in the 35–21 victory. Brady closed out the season being named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for November and December. In addition, he was the Week 16 AFC Offensive Player of the Week. Brady had a statistically successful season, and in the regular season finale against the Bills (a 49–21 win), he became the fourth quarterback to throw for 5,000 yards in a season, finishing with 5,235.

2012: Breaks NFL Record for Completions

During the 2012 season, Brady broke his own NFL record for completions in a season, as well as Matthew Stafford's record for pass attempts in a season.

2012: Brady leads Patriots to 12-4 record and earns multiple AFC Offensive Player of the Week awards

During the 2012 season, Tom Brady started all 16 regular season games and led the Patriots to a 12–4 record. He earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week three times in Weeks 4, 8, and 14. He became the first quarterback to lead his team to ten division titles. With a 557-point total, the Patriots became the first team to score at least 500 points in a season four different times, with Brady leading all four squads, also a record. He finished the season with 4,827 passing yards, 34 touchdowns, only eight interceptions, and a passer rating of 98.7. Brady was named to the Pro Bowl for the eighth time in his career.

February 25, 2013: Brady agrees to three-year contract extension with Patriots

On February 25, 2013, Tom Brady and the Patriots agreed on a three-year contract extension, keeping him with the team through 2017.

2013: Last Time Brady Lost in Playoffs in Consecutive Seasons

In 2013, Brady had not lost in the playoffs in consecutive seasons until the loss to the Cowboys.

2013: Greatest Passing Season Ever by ESPN

Tom Brady finished the 2007 season with 4,806 passing yards, 50 touchdown passes, eight interceptions, and a career-high 117.2 passer rating. It was unanimously voted the greatest passing season ever by ESPN in 2013. He was named the Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year. He was honored by the Associated Press as their Male Athlete of the Year. He was named as a First-Team All-Pro and to his fourth career Pro Bowl.

2014: Endorsement Earnings

In 2014, Brady earned about $7 million from endorsements.

2014: Brady leads Patriots to AFC East title, named to Pro Bowl, and ranked on NFL Top 100

In 2014, Tom Brady started the season with a loss to the Dolphins. After a slow start, Brady led the Patriots to a seven-game winning streak and won AFC Offensive Player of the Month for October. Brady clinched his NFL record 12th AFC East division title and was named to his tenth career Pro Bowl. He was also ranked third by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2015 list.

2014: Brady named to Pro Bowl and Patriots reach AFC Championship

In 2014, Tom Brady was named to the Pro Bowl for the ninth time in his career and was ranked third on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2014 list in the off-season. The Patriots finished the season 12–4 to earn the second seed in the AFC and a first-round bye. Brady made his 25th playoff appearance, breaking Brett Favre's career record for playoff appearances by a quarterback. The Patriots lost 26–16 to the Broncos in the AFC Championship.

February 29, 2016: Brady signs two-year contract extension

On February 29, 2016, Tom Brady signed a two-year contract extension covering the 2018 and 2019 seasons with the NFL.

August 23, 2016: TB12 Brand Expands to Offer Snack Line

On August 23, 2016, the TB12 brand expanded to offer a snack line.

December 20, 2016: Brady named to Pro Bowl for eighth straight season

On December 20, 2016, Tom Brady was named to the Pro Bowl for the eighth straight season and 12th time overall.

May 12, 2017: Brady Announced as Madden NFL 18 Cover Athlete

On May 12, 2017, Tom Brady was announced as the cover athlete for Madden NFL 18.

September 2017: Publishes The TB12 Method

In September 2017, Simon & Schuster published Brady's first book The TB12 Method: How to Achieve a Lifetime of Sustained Peak Performance, which became a number one best-seller.

2018: End of 8 Consecutive AFC Championship Game Appearances

From 2011 to 2018, Tom Brady led the Patriots to eight consecutive AFC Championship Games.

2018: Brady Endorses Republican Helen Brady

In 2018, Tom Brady endorsed Republican Helen Brady (no relation) for State Auditor of Massachusetts.

August 4, 2019: Brady Signs Contract Extension

On August 4, 2019, Tom Brady signed a two-year contract extension worth $70 million through the 2021 season, allowing him to become a free agent after 2019.

2019: End of 11 Consecutive Division Titles

From 2009 to 2019, Tom Brady led the Patriots to 11 consecutive division titles.

2019: End of Patriots Era

In 2019, Tom Brady's tenure with the New England Patriots ended, marking the conclusion of his significant contribution to the franchise's dynasty.

2019: End of Brady-Belichick Era

The Brady–Belichick era ended in 2019, marking the end of their partnership.

March 17, 2020: Brady Announces Departure from the Patriots

On March 17, 2020, Tom Brady announced he would not re-sign with the Patriots for the 2020 season, ending his 20-year tenure with the team.

March 20, 2020: Brady Signs with the Buccaneers

On March 20, 2020, Tom Brady signed a two-year contract with the Buccaneers worth $50 million, including a no-trade and a no-franchise tag clause.

April 2020: Gronkowski Traded to Buccaneers

In April 2020, Rob Gronkowski came out of retirement and was traded to the Buccaneers, reuniting him with Tom Brady.

2020: Launches 199 Productions

In 2020, Brady launched a production company, 199 Productions.

2020: Joins Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In 2020, Tom Brady joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

2020: Led Tampa Bay to wild card berth

In 2020, Tom Brady led Tampa Bay to a wild card berth.

2020: Signed with Buccaneers

In 2020, Tom Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team that had not reached the postseason since 2007 or won a playoff game since 2002.

January 2021: Autograph Funding

In January 2021, Autograph, the sports-based NFT platform co-founded by Brady, announced it raised $170M in funding.

March 12, 2021: Brady Signs Contract Extension

On March 12, 2021, Tom Brady signed a one-year contract extension through the 2022 season with the Buccaneers.

2021: Endorses Subway and Hero Bread

In 2021, Brady endorsed Subway and its partnership with Hero Bread, a company that produces low-net-carb baked goods in which he is an investor.

2021: Record completions and passing yards

In 2021, Tom Brady set the season record for completions and led the league in passing yards and touchdowns; his passing yards were a career-high.

February 1, 2022: Brady Announces Retirement

On February 1, 2022, Tom Brady announced his retirement after 22 seasons in the NFL.

March 13, 2022: Brady Unretires, Returns to Buccaneers

On March 13, 2022, just 40 days after announcing his retirement, Tom Brady announced he would return to the Buccaneers for the 2022 season.

May 10, 2022: Joins Fox Sports as Lead Color Commentator

On May 10, 2022, Fox Sports announced that Brady would join the network as the lead color commentator for a reported $375 million over 10 years, making him the highest paid sports commentator in history.

2022: First Career Losing Season and Eight or More Losses

In 2022, Brady experienced his first career losing season as a starter and a season in which he lost eight or more games.

2022: Wins NFC South title

In 2022, Tom Brady led Tampa Bay to NFC South title.

February 1, 2023: Retirement Announcement

On February 1, 2023, Brady announced his retirement "for good" on social media.

March 2023: Purchases Stake in Las Vegas Aces

In March 2023, Brady purchased a minority stake in the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA.

May 2023: Agrees to Purchase Stake in Las Vegas Raiders

In May 2023, Brady and Tom Wagner entered into an agreement to purchase 10% of the Las Vegas Raiders from Mark Davis.

August 2023: Becomes Minority Owner and Chairman at Birmingham City

In August 2023, Brady became a minority owner and chairman of a new advisory board at English football club Birmingham City.

September 6, 2023: Hired as Strategic Advisor by Delta Air Lines

On September 6, 2023, it was announced that Delta Air Lines had hired Brady as a strategic advisor.

2023: 2004 New England Patriots Last NFL Team to Win Second Straight Super Bowl

Up until the 2023 season, the 2004 New England Patriots were the last NFL team to win a second straight Super Bowl.

January 2024: Merges Brands with NoBull

In January 2024, Brady agreed to merge his health and apparel brands with NoBull and to become its second largest shareholder.

October 2024: Agreement Approved by NFL Owners

In October 2024, a revised agreement was approved by NFL owners, with Brady owning a 5% stake and Wagner owning 5%.

2024: Broadcasting Career Begins

In 2024, Brady began his broadcasting career during the UFL Championship Game and made his NFL on Fox debut, and was part of the Fox broadcast team for Super Bowl LIX.

2025: Restrictions Relaxed

Prior to the 2025 NFL season, several restrictions on Brady were "relaxed", and Brady was allowed to attend production meetings remotely and to interview players off-site.