- Tom Brady is one of the most competitive players in the NFL.
- During Brady’s 18 years in the league, there are legendary stories of Brady’s competitiveness, whether it’s his supreme self-confidence, anger over losing, or desire to win even beer-chugging contests.
- Brady is also one of the hardest workers, loves to prepare, and thrives off of competition and doubters.
During Tom Brady’s 18 years in the NFL, stories of his competitiveness have become part of his legend.
Across the league, there are tales of Brady’s intense desire to win, temper tantrums when he loses, and extreme self-confidence. At 41 years old, Brady isn’t one of the players that seems to have lost his desire to compete – he seems to enjoy it more than ever.
Check out 36 of the best examples of Brady’s competitiveness below.
Former Patriot Dan Koppen said that Brady is the most competitive person he’s ever met.
Source: CSNNE
Former teammate Darrelle Revis described Brady's desire to win as a "sickness."
Read more: Teammate describes the trait that makes Tom Brady so great
He doesn't take losing well. He admitted that he had to work on his body language so as not to be too hard on his teammates.
Patriots receiver Danny Amendola said Brady once broke a ping pong paddle after losing to Amendola in a game.
Source: ESPN
Similarly, Huard called Brady a "psychotic competitor," referencing a time Brady threw a backgammon board across the room because he lost.
Source: WEEI
Everyone is competition. Former Patriots backup Damien Huard said Brady once gave his teammates a pep-talk to make sure they wouldn't lose to a group of local firemen in a charity game.
Source: WEEI
Patriots backup quarterback Brian Hoyer said at a team dinner, after much convincing, Brady took part in a beer-chugging contest. "You couldn't have poured out the beer faster into a glass," Hoyer said. Brady just walked away smiling with his hands in the air.
Source: ESPN
He'll push his limits. According to Bill Belichick, during a round of golf at Pebble Beach, Brady hit the ball onto the edge of a cliff. Belichick watched in horror as his franchise quarterback climbed out onto the ledge, while his caddy held onto him to retrieve the ball.
Source: ESPN
It started in high school for Brady. He used to have his high school teammates over his house to study film while his mom made them lunch.
Source: WEEI
But it wasn't always easy. He hired a psychologist to deal with the stress of being the seventh-string QB when he first got to Michigan. Eventually, he won the job.
Source: ESPN
Brady knew he'd be great. When he was drafted, he told Patriots owner Robert Kraft, "I'm the best decision this organization has ever made."
Source: MMQB
He told his high-school coach after getting drafted that if he ever got the chance to start in the NFL, the Patriots would never go back to Drew Bledsoe.
Source: USA Today
And when Brady finally got the starting job, he told his backup it was no sweat. "I'm going to be one of the best at this game," he said.
Source: ESPN
When he filled in for the injured Bledsoe, he even told his offensive linemen that Bledsoe was "not getting his f------ job back!"
Source: Sports Illustrated
He has no plans to relinquish his spot. Brady says he wants to play until he's 45, and he used to even consider 50 a real possibility.
Source: ESPN
When asked about retirement plans, Brady once quipped, "What am I going to do, go scuba diving?"
Source: New York Times
Brady micromanages his life to play at an age when others retire. For instance, he goes to bed at 8:30 to stay fresh.
Read more: Tom Brady explains why he goes to sleep at 8:30
And he does it without an alarm by doing brain exercises before bed.
Read more: Tom Brady does brain exercises so he can go to sleep at 9 p.m. and wake up without an alarm
He also has a ridiculous diet that few others could follow. Avocado ice cream is a treat, and he even stays away from popular health foods like peppers, tomatoes, and mushrooms.
Read more: Here is what Tom Brady eats to stay in peak condition at an age most players retire
Preparation is key. Former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison said Brady goaded him into working out at 5:30 A.M. by saying "Good afternoon!" every time Harrison arrived at 6:30 A.M.
Source: ESPN
He keeps improving. Brady has worked to get quicker, and once said he was faster at age 39 than he was coming out of college.
Before afternoon games, Brady makes receivers prepare to stare into the sun by catching balls from the direction where the sun will shine during the game.
After making the Super Bowl during the 2016 season, Brady stayed up until 1:30 A.M. studying the Falcons' roster.
Don't ask Brady to play a game of catch: He'll drill the ball at you from 5 yards away, according to Brandon LaFell.
Read more: Patriots receiver has a great story about Tom Brady's intense preparation
He has a healthy respect for good competition. Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett said Brady compliments players who sack him.
Read more: Seahawks player goes on amazing rant about why he hates NFL quarterbacks
And former Patriot Dante Stallworth said that Brady would pay practice-squad players who intercepted him.
Read more: Former Patriots player says Tom Brady paid practice-squad players who intercepted him
Opponents say he's one of the only quarterbacks who will mix it up and talk trash.
Source: CSNNE
Brady once used "Joker! Rex Ryan, Rex Ryan!" as an audible call as a shot at the former Buffalo Bills coach.
Read more: Tom Brady trolls the Bills by using 'Rex Ryan' as an audible call
But don't taunt him too much. A college friend said Brady once leveled an opponent during an intramural basketball game because he was trash-talking Tom.
Source: Providence Journal
Brady said nothing relieves his anger like a good F-bomb tirade.
Read more: Tom Brady explains why he loves the F-word
He thrives off of doubters. After helping the Patriots beat the Chiefs in the 2018 AFC Championship, Brady laughed at critics who said he was "too old" and his receivers were "too slow."
Source: New England Patriots
There was speculation during Deflategate that Brady wouldn't take a lesser punishment because it would admit some sort of wrongdoing.
Read more: There's one big reason why Tom Brady may not agree to a settlement in Deflategate
When Brady was suspended for Deflategate, he couldn't be around the team, so he called up former Patriots receiver Wes Welker to play catch with him so he could stay sharp.
Read more: Tom Brady recruited his former top receiver to help him stay sharp during his suspension
He called his first game back from his Deflategate suspension "rusty." He threw for over 400 yards and three touchdowns.
Brady apparently complained to Patriots staff members in 2017 that Bill Belichick never gave him the player of the week award, despite posting an MVP-level season.
Don't ask him to sign a photo where his mechanics look bad — he won't do it.
Read more: Tom Brady is so obsessed with perfection, he won't sign photos where his mechanics look bad
But it's all worthwhile for the Patriots. Brady's teammates say every practice is like a game because Brady is so intense.
Source: Cover 32
Brady is so driven by team success that he has sacrificed around $60 million to help the Patriots keep building good teams around him.
Now, take a look back at who was on the coaching staff during the Patriots' first Super Bowl run....
