After Playing In 23 Seasons And 372 Games, Tom Brady Throws His Weight Around Past Versus Present Debate

Tom Brady has undeniably been the face of the NFL for a while. His 23 years in the league have been nothing short of successful. As the most decorated player, there isn’t much left to do that he hasn’t already done. But Brady continues to persist. While his perseverance is admirable, the NFL world has been forced to ask an important question.

Aside from all his previous accomplishments, objectively, Brady has been in a downward spiral. Take away all the accolades of the past and you’ll see that this season has been nothing but a slump to mediocrity. This by no means tarnishes what the QB has accomplished in the past. Brady’s showdown against the 49ers was eye-opening in many ways. For one, it reduced the legend to the reality that is often ignored. This year, Brady is a 45-year-old and struggling to compete with players half his age. The big question remains, is Brady’s slump a phase in his long career, or are we witnessing the end of a successful era?

Home Town game didn’t go as planned for Tom Brady

Brady’s most recent defeat was a tough pill to swallow. Playing in his hometown was something the quarterback looked forward to, especially because of the rarity of the situation. The Bucs took on the 49ers in San Francisco. But the GOAT was unable to make the game a memorable homecoming as the California native succumbed to a 7-35 defeat. Speaking on his podcast after their defeat, Brady sounded somber. But that changed soon enough when his guests hopped on the show. Featuring Adam Sandler, Tracy Morgan, and Bill Burr, the latest episode of ‘Let’s Go!’ is chaotic. Filled with laughs and important nuggets of information, it sounded like Brady was putting the disappointment of his loss behind him.

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When asked about why running backs no longer jump over other players as they used to, Brady’s noncommittal answer is interesting. He said, “No, I don’t know why. We definitely have, they’re still in, probably just not as much as it used to be with those guys, you know elevate like that. A lot of that comes down to certain situations.” He added “It’s a really new school game now. It’s very different than it was twenty years ago too, very different.” While every sport undergoes changes from time to time, it’s interesting to look at it from the eyes of a player who has performed through the shift in the way the game is played.

Will Brady keep going?

Most of the quarterbacks who go up against Brady today, were children twenty years ago. Brock Purdy, who took over the Niners’ QB position and defeated TB12 in his career start was born a year before he got drafted. Brady’s been a part of most of his peers’ childhoods. His long run may have helped him gain insight into the game but is he pushing it too far? TB12 has shown no signs of being physically inadequate.

Mentally, he’s prepared to take on challenges. But, at the end of the day, his performance indicates otherwise. This year, the ups and downs in Brady’s life both on and off the field have proven that despite his legendary history, he’s human, after all. Will there be a road to redemption in the future or is there where he ends his journey? The end of this season will answer these burning questions.

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