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, widely considered the greatest of all time. He played 23 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the New England Patriots, leading them to a dynasty from 2001-2019. He won seven Super Bowl titles, more than any other player, and holds numerous NFL records. His final three seasons were with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before retiring. He is now a sports broadcaster.

Sections (7)

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

1970: Patriots Tie Victory Record

In 2009, the Patriots' 59–0 victory over the Titans tied the record for the largest margin of victory since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, and set a record for largest halftime lead in NFL history, which was 45–0.

1972: Patriots Match Dolphins Record

After defeating the Jaguars, the Patriots matched the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only team to win 17 consecutive games in one season.

1978: Patriots' First Home Playoff Loss Since 1978

The 2009 Wild Card Round loss was the Patriots' first home playoff loss since 1978.

1995: Began College Football Career at Michigan

In 1995, Tom Brady began his college football career at the University of Michigan, initially as a backup quarterback.

September 28, 1996: First Collegiate Game Appearance

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

1998: Set Michigan Records

In 1998, Tom Brady set new Michigan records for most pass attempts and completions in a season, totaling 214 completions.

2000: Rookie Season with Patriots

During his rookie season in 2000, Tom Brady was the fourth-string quarterback and completed only one pass for six yards.

2000: Drafted by the New England Patriots

In 2000, Tom Brady was drafted 199th overall in the sixth round of the NFL draft by the New England Patriots.

2001: Began Streak of Consecutive Starts

From 2001 to 2008, Tom Brady began a streak of 111 consecutive starts, which ended due to injury.

2001: Bledsoe Injury Leads to Brady Starting

In 2001, Drew Bledsoe suffered an injury in the second game against the New York Jets, leading to Tom Brady taking over as the starting quarterback for the Patriots.

2001: Start of Patriots' Dynasty

In 2001, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick initiated the New England Patriots' dynasty, which lasted until 2019.

2002: First Super Bowl Victory and MVP Award

In 2002, Tom Brady led the Patriots to a Super Bowl victory against the St. Louis Rams and was named Super Bowl MVP. Drew Bledsoe was traded to the Buffalo Bills, solidifying Brady's role as the starting quarterback.

2003: Led Patriots to 14-2 Season

In 2003, Tom Brady led the Patriots to twelve consecutive victories to finish the regular season at 14-2 to win the AFC East.

2003: NFL Record Streak Began

The NFL record for consecutive wins began in 2003, reaching 21 games into the 2004 season.

2003: First Opening Day Loss Since 2003

Tom Brady's 2014 season started with a 33–20 loss to the Dolphins, marking his first opening day loss since the 2003 season.

2004: Peyton Manning's Single-Season Record

In 2004, Peyton Manning set the single-season record that Tom Brady would later break in 2007.

2004: Patriots Set NFL Record with 21 Straight Wins

In 2004, Tom Brady helped the Patriots set an NFL record with 21 straight wins dating from the previous year. New England finished with a 14–2 record.

2004: Super Bowl XXXIX Victory

In 2004, Tom Brady led the Patriots to victory in Super Bowl XXXIX against the Philadelphia Eagles, securing their third championship in four years.

2006: Patriots Reach Playoffs

In 2006, Tom Brady led the Patriots to a 12-4 record and the fourth seed in the AFC playoffs. He declined an injury-replacement selection to the Pro Bowl.

2007: Acquisition of Key Receivers

In 2007, the Patriots acquired wide receivers Donté Stallworth, Wes Welker, Kelley Washington, and Randy Moss, setting the stage for Brady's exceptional season.

2007: Career High Touchdowns Tied

On October 18, 2009, Tom Brady finished the game with six touchdowns, tying his career-high from the 2007 season, and 380 yards, completing 29-of-34 attempts, finishing with a nearly perfect passer rating of 152.8.

October 18, 2009: Record-Setting Performance Against the Titans

On October 18, 2009, Tom Brady set an NFL record for most touchdowns in a quarter (five) against the Titans, finishing the game with six touchdowns and a near-perfect passer rating of 152.8. The Patriots won 59-0, tying the record for the largest margin of victory since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week due to this performance.

2009: Outstanding Performance in 2009 Season Opener

In the 2009 season opener, Tom Brady threw for 378 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Patriots to a 25–24 win against the Bills after being down 24-13. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week due to this performance in 2009.

2009: Wild Card Round Loss

In the 2009 season, Tom Brady threw for 154 passing yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions in a 33–14 Wild Card Round loss to the Baltimore Ravens. This marked his first career home playoff loss.

2009: Successful 2009 Regular Season

Tom Brady finished the 2009 regular season with 4,398 passing yards and 28 touchdowns, achieving a 96.2 rating despite injuries. He was later selected as a reserve to the 2010 Pro Bowl and named the 2009 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

September 10, 2010: Contract Extension

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

2011: Career-High Performance and Passing Yards

During the 2011 season, Tom Brady achieved a career-high of 517 passing yards in Week 1 and tied a record with a 99-yard touchdown pass. Although surpassing Dan Marino's record, Brady finished second in passing yards with 5,235. The Patriots clinched the AFC's #1 seed, with Brady named to the Pro Bowl.

2012: Pass Attempts Record

In 2012, Brady broke Matthew Stafford's record for pass attempts in a season.

2012: Leading Patriots to Division Titles and High Scoring Season

In 2012, Tom Brady led the Patriots to a 12-4 record and his tenth division title. The Patriots scored 557 points, marking their fourth 500+ point season, a record led by Brady. He finished with 4,827 passing yards and 34 touchdowns and was named to the Pro Bowl.

February 25, 2013: Contract Extension with the Patriots

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

2013: Playoff Loss

In 2013, it marked the last time Brady lost in the playoffs in consecutive seasons until losing to the Cowboys.

2013: Breaks TD:INT Ratio Record

Tom Brady ended the 2016 regular season with 28 passing touchdowns and only two interceptions breaking Nick Foles's 2013 record.

2014: Continued Success and Playoff Appearance

In 2014, Tom Brady was named to the Pro Bowl for the ninth time and ranked third on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2014 list. The Patriots finished the season 12–4 and made it to the AFC Championship, losing to the Broncos.

2014: Opening Day Loss and Division Title

Tom Brady started the 2014 season with a loss to the Dolphins, his first opening day loss since 2003. He later won AFC Offensive Player of the Month for October and clinched his 12th AFC East division title.

January 20, 2016: Launch of TB12Sports.com

On January 20, 2016, Brady announced the launch of his website TB12Sports.com, featuring his training regimen and merchandise.

February 29, 2016: Contract Extension

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

2016: Return After Suspension and AFC Offensive Player of the Month

After serving his four-game suspension, Tom Brady made his 2016 season debut on October 9, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week. His outstanding performance earned him the AFC Offensive Player of the Month award for October 2016.

2016: Patriots Season and Brady's Performance

Despite injuries to key players, the Patriots finished the 2016 season 12-4. Tom Brady led the league with 36 touchdown passes, was named to his 11th Pro Bowl, and was ranked as the second-best player on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.

2017: Contract Extension Through 2017

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

2018: Contract Extension Covering 2018 Season

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

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, but the terms allowed him to become a free agent after the 2019 season.

2019: Contract Extension Covering 2019 Season

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

March 17, 2020: Brady Announces Departure from Patriots

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

March 20, 2020: Brady Signs with the Buccaneers

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

April 2020: Gronkowski Traded to Buccaneers

In April 2020, Tom Brady was reunited with former Patriots teammate Rob Gronkowski when the tight end came out of retirement and was traded to the Buccaneers at Brady's request.

2020: Signed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In 2020, Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team that had not reached the postseason since 2007 or won a playoff game since 2002. His arrival marked a significant turning point for the franchise.

March 12, 2021: Brady Signs Contract Extension with Buccaneers

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

2021: Record-Setting Season with Buccaneers

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

February 1, 2022: Brady Announces Retirement

On February 1, 2022, after 22 seasons, Tom Brady announced his retirement from 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: Fox Sports Deal Announced

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

2022: First Career Losing Season as Starter

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

February 1, 2023: Retirement Announcement

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

June 12, 2024: Patriots Hall of Fame Induction

On June 12, 2024, Brady was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame, with the date referencing the number of championships he won in New England, and became a "Keeper of the Light."