“He’s not human!” That’s what conspiracy theorists and sports critics are chatting up around social media about Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.
In an industry where most players are in their 20s and early 30s, Brady is defying age by playing against 25-year-old Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at the tender age of 43. This will be his 10th Super Bowl! That broke the records of Hall-of-Famers and legendary players John Elway, who has five Super Bowls under his belt, and Joe Montana and Peyton Manning, with four Super Bowls.
Throughout his storied career, the longtime New England Patriots quarterback has participated in 9 Super Bowls, won a total of six championships and 14 Pro Bowls, and is a triple NFL MVP, two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year and four-time Super Bowl MVP. Brady has done all of this while becoming the oldest NFL player to play in the Super Bowl, period — and to that point, he’s performing better than many.
Once a backup quarterback that couldn’t get any playing time with the University of Michigan college football team, the 6’4″ champ has risen like a phoenix breaking through the mental barrier that often tells us that we can’t accomplish certain goals because we’re too old.
Half of the Super Bowls that Brady has participated in have occurred after his 37th birthday. Three of those Super Bowls were started by the quarterback after he turned 40. Again and again, with a consistent routine that includes hard work, smart choices and persistent belief, Brady has stretched his tent poles to make room for more possibilities.
That’s why Brady is such an inspiration, whether you’re rooting for his team or not. In spite of the unavoidable pitfalls of sports fame and his call of duty to his family, Brady proves that age doesn’t mean anything if you believe in yourself and then, edify that belief with action. So, in your pursuits of whatever dreams and aspirations you have, know that anything is possible. If he can do it, you can do it, too.
As Brady said in an ESPN interview last week, he plays the game because he loves it and he has nothing to prove to no one but himself. He doesn’t do it for the spectators and critics. That very much may be his “secret.” In the marathon of life, pick something you love to do and don’t look left or right. Just do your thing. Compete against yourself and by doing so you will level up each time.
Super Bowl LV kicks off live at 3:30 PM PST on CBS.
