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Tom Brady retires: The Top 10 moments of his playing career

By Sravan Gannavarapu

TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 07: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers defeated the Chiefs 31-9. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 07: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers defeated the Chiefs 31-9. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MO – JANUARY 20: Quarterback Tom Brady, #12 of the New England Patriots, calls signals in overtime against the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 20, 2019, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – JANUARY 20: Quarterback Tom Brady, #12 of the New England Patriots, calls signals in overtime against the Kansas City Chiefs during the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 20, 2019, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /

No. 4: 2018 AFC Championship Game vs. KC Chiefs

Was Dee Ford offside? Yeah, sure. But what’s most forgotten is what happened leading up to the game. The Patriots were essentially given no shot. Noted shock jock Rob Parker said he would move to Mexico if the Pats won. News flash, they did, and Parker hasn’t moved and is still taking cheap shots at Brady at every opportunity to this day. But that’s not the point.

Against Patrick Mahomes in the biggest moment of the year at that point, Tom Brady came through when his team needed him to, taking a 14-0 lead over the Chiefs and ultimately converting several third downs when necessary against the Chiefs’ defense. Penalties helped, but it wasn’t a bogus call on Ford.

Though Rex Burkhead punched the ticket to the big dance with his touchdown run, Brady’s performance against Kansas City will go down as a signature victory of his career, and it was a road win as well.

No. 3: Super Bowl XLIX vs. the Legion of Boom

It had been 10 long seasons since the last banner was raised in New England. Two Super Bowl losses. Then, the “Deflategate” saga was going on, and looking back on it, that might have had ESPN going wild, but for nothing. That said, Brady had a more daunting task ahead. The Legion of Boom. The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. In of all places, the site of his biggest Super Bowl loss and also the site of this year’s Super Bowl. Glendale, Arizona.

The fourth quarter was a masterpiece. Touchdowns on two consecutive drives gave the Patriots a late lead. But Russell Wilson somehow hit Jermaine Kearse on a pass that had Patriots fans fearing the worst again. That was before cornerback Malcolm Butler jumped a route and sealed the win with a goal-line interception.

With a game MVP added to his resume, it was the long-awaited fourth title for the Patriots franchise. No one knew what was to come next, but the stretch that followed this game was one that will forever live in Patriots lore as one of the most successful runs in the league’s history.

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