Is Tom Brady the best American Athlete of all time?

Tom Brady is beyond special, but is he the greatest athlete  from the United States to ever grace a sport? 

There’s a certain “wow” factor when talking about a quarterback with six Super Bowl rings. How many times in the history of the sport has one player single-handily has completely changed the history of a franchise?

Tom Brady spent 20 years making the New England Patriots the most feared team of the 2000s. Ten trips to the Super Bowl since 2000? Brady’s name is followed by Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre as some of the greatest to play under center.

They all have one Lombardi Trophy with Favre as the only player who’s gone twice.

Even if Brady doesn’t hoist his seventh Super Bowl win in Raymond James Stadium, we’re entering a new phase of G.O.A.T.hood. During a pandemic season, with little to no training camp and on a new team, Brady still was Brady.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hadn’t made the postseason in 13 years. All they needed was a player to limit the turnovers. Enter Brady, enter the history books. Tampa Bay now becomes the first team to host a Super Bowl in their own stadium. Same team, same coaching staff, different quarterback.

Thus enters the question: is Brady the greatest American athlete?

Brady’s legacy is great, but is it the best?

Brady is the ultimate underdog story. Drafted No. 199 overall in the 2000 NFL Draft out of Michigan, sixth-round players are lucky enough to make the roster, let alone become superstars at the most important position to a franchise’s success.

This time last season, no one would have guessed that Brady was ready to leave New England. The history between Bill Belichick and his protege was unlike any coach and player matched in perhaps any sport. To put into context just how dangerous the two were, their 20 year run ended with 13 appearances in the AFC Conference Championship.

The next closest in any sport? LeBron James with 11.

He also has a winning percentage all-time of 76.9 percent. Is there any more proof needed?

Brady has surpassed the likes of Joe Montana, John Elway and even Peyton Manning at 43. That doesn’t answer the question of if he’s the greatest American athlete to ever grace a sport.

The quick answer: no. Despite being the most clutch with a mere 69 total losses in two decades, several others certainly should be in the same conversation no matter what they play.

Hank Aaron owned the MLB home run record in a time before the steroid era while dealing with racial injustice from other players. He also is one of 32 players to join the 3,000-hit club.

How about Michael Jordan? Same number of championship, more MVPs and overall better numbers. Fans compare him and James but after this summer’s documentary, is there even a competition?

Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods both made golf must-see TV as the latter is chasing the predecessor’s record. Nicklaus won 18 majors in his playing days and 73 tournaments. Woods had the ultimate comeback story with his 2019 Masters win to give him his 15th major title.

What about swimming? Michael Phelps is the greatest olympian no matter what country with 28 total medals. And in tennis? Is there anyone that will match Serena Williams’ 23 grand slam totals?

In Lambeau Field against the Packers, Brady outdid his legacy. It took one season for him to change conferences and pick up the George Halas trophy for the first time. In an improbable year of so much uncertainty, Brady made one thing clear to fans around the NFL.

Brady is the greatest to ever line up for a snap. The greatest to ever play a sport? Let’s pump the brakes. There’s no “I” in team, but there is in individual.

Those are the ones who have him beat.