J.J. McCarthy is chasing Tom Brady’s Michigan legacy in the College Football Playoff

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy is chasing the GOAT as he aims to lead the Wolverines to their first National Championship since 1997.

Jim Harbaugh and J.J. McCarthy have been a beautiful pairing thus far, as the former top recruit has been everything Michigan promised and then some. McCarthy is fresh off defeating Ohio State as well as a Big Ten Championship just a few weeks ago.

Now, McCarthy has his eyes set on a College Football Playoff victory. That starts on Saturday afternoon against TCU, where McCarthy and Donovan Edwards lead a talented Wolverines offense.

Long before McCarthy, Michigan had a talented quarterback fraternity. First and foremost in that group is Tom Brady, arguably the greatest QB of all-time, and a seven-time Super Bowl champion. While Brady didn’t have the same hype McCarthy has when he left Ann Arbor, his NFL accomplishments speak for themselves.

J.J. McCarthy is chasing Tom Brady

Tom Brady still keeps up with the Michigan football program, and even texted McCarthy after he defeated Ohio State.

“He responded to me after the Ohio State game and said, ‘Great job.’ I just can’t wait to build that relationship more and more and just pick his brain nonstop, annoy the heck out of him,” McCarthy said.

In an appearance on ‘The Rich Eisen Show’, McCarthy let it be known that he wants to go down as the greatest QB in Michigan football history.

"“I have so much respect for (Brady) and everything he’s done with what he’s been given, but I’m chasing him,” McCarthy said. “I’m chasing him. I texted him when I got here, and I told him, ‘I want to get the ring that you didn’t get.’ That goes for this year and winning that national championship.  Ultimately, the goal is to have more rings than that guy, and I’m going to do whatever I can to follow his blueprint and hopefully surpass him.”"

Surpassing Brady is easier said than done, but winning the College Football Playoff would be a great start.

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