What Happened to Tom Brady in the 2000 NFL Combine? Looking Back at His “Slowest Run” as Legend Rechecks 40-Yard Dash Time

The NFL Combine serves as a platform for college football athletes to exhibit their skills. Similar to the dynamics of actual games, some participants find themselves at the tail end of the competition. Take, for instance, the iconic 40-yard dash, where competitors line up one by one, ultimately resulting in a single last-place finisher. Remarkably, in the archives of NFL history, even the illustrious Tom Brady found himself in such a position, recording one of the slowest times.

More than a couple of decades ago, the GOAT set a slow record in the 40-yard dash. Fast forward to today, Brady is ready to challenge this story; he wants to recheck his time. In a recent tweet, he even invited his fans to guess if he’ll beat his old record, getting everyone excited.

The infamous Tom Brady combine

Tom Brady is considered one of the best ever, but back in 2000, he was at the end of the line. This infamous record of his is coming up again because of his recent video captioned “Drop your predictions.” In the short clip, Tom Brady says, “24 years ago, I ran a 5.28 40-yard dash. Working out today, maybe, just maybe, we give the 40 one more shot.” It seems Brady is going to try the famous drill again, and his tone suggests something big is coming.

Brady has never been known for being a fast quarterback. This was confirmed by his 5.28 time in the 2000 NFL Combine 40-yard dash. Among all the quarterbacks from 2000 to 2021, whether they played in the NFL or not, Brady has the second slowest time. However, he was only faster than his former teammate Ryan Mallett (5.37), Redman (5.37), and Toby Korrodi (5.37). Also, Brady tied with Jared Lorenzen (5.28). Still, his lack of speed didn’t stop him. Even though Brady’s 40-yard dash was not impressive, he was still drafted in the sixth round that year by the New England Patriots. His dash time and draft position became hardly significant.

Can the GOAT outrun his past?

Now retired, people see the QB as one of the greatest players ever. However, at the 2000 NFL Combine, Tom Brady’s performance was notably below average. Infamously, his 40-yard dash clocked in at 5.28 seconds. Additionally, his vertical jump measured 24.5 inches, and his 20-yard short shuttle was 4.38 seconds. His reports even stated that “Poor build, Skinny, Lacks great physical stature and strength, Lacks mobility and ability to avoid the rush, Lacks a really strong arm, Can’t drive the ball downfield, Does not throw a really tight spiral, System-type player who can get exposed if forced to ad lib, Gets knocked down easily”. However, the GOAT has come very from that. 

Read More: 7 Amazing Super Bowl Records Held by Tom Brady

Now he may be getting ready to try the same drill that many young players will do at the NFL’s Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this weekend. Some say Brady was never the fastest, even in his prime. So, the outlook is not too rosy. Yet, many fans still have faith in him. Brady has kept himself in top shape even post-retirement, so there’s a chance he could beat his old record. But at 46, running a faster 40-yard dash would defy all norms.

Currently, NFL star John Ross holds the record for the fastest 40-yard dash time in history at 4.22 seconds. Can Brady even come close? Share your thoughts.