Challenges in the Life of Tom Brady in a Detailed Timeline

Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Tom Brady. A timeline of obstacles and growth.

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

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: 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".

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.

2008: Injury

In 2008, Tom Brady missed the season due to injury.

2008: Injury Sidelines Brady

In 2008, Tom Brady's streak of consecutive starts ended due to injury.

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.

2015: Brady's suspension vacated by Judge Berman

In 2015, Judge Richard M. Berman vacated Tom Brady's suspension, allowing him to play in the first four games of the 2015 NFL season. Judge Berman cited the NFL's failure to provide proper notice to Brady of the charges against him.

2016: Brady's Four-Game Suspension Overturned

In 2016, the decision to vacate Tom Brady's four-game suspension was overturned by the U.S. Appeals Court. Circuit Judge Barrington Daniels Parker Jr. wrote that they could not "second-guess" the arbitration but were merely determining it "met the minimum legal standards established by the Labor Management Relations Act of 1947". On July 15, Brady announced that he would give up his Deflategate fight and accept his suspension for the first four regular season games of the 2016 season.

February 11, 2021: Brady Knee Surgery Revealed

On February 11, 2021, it was revealed that Tom Brady had knee discomfort through most of the 2020 season and would require a minor arthroscopy.

February 2022: Securities Act Extends to Social Media

In February 2022, the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a lawsuit against Bitconnect that the Securities Act of 1933 extends to targeted solicitation using social media.

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.

2023: Losses from FTX Bankruptcy

In 2023, it was reported Brady owned 1 million shares in FTX, and he and his wife lost an estimated combined value of $45 million when FTX went bankrupt.

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.