Almost everyone who grew up before the social media era has some cringe-worthy photos floating around online. For Tom Brady, one particular snapshot from the 2000 NFL Combine has become a viral sensation that refuses to fade away.
“I honestly thought I looked good back then,” Brady joked recently on the Dude Perfect podcast. The seven-time Super Bowl champion revisited the now-infamous image that shows a noticeably less athletic version of himself, sparking laughter and teasing from fans and media alike.
“That picture definitely wasn’t my finest hour,” he admitted with a grin. Brady mentioned he had just finished doing pushups before the photo was snapped, but he expected it to be a private scouting tool, not something shared widely on social media.
The viral photo that refuses to disappear
“This was before the internet blew up. We thought only NFL scouts would see it. Now, every April, anyone following NFL news sees that photo-and I want to kill the NFL social media manager every time,” he laughed.
When asked if there was ever a time he felt less athletic, Brady was honest: “I’m not sure. Maybe I was just a bit naive back then.”
On which sport gave him the toughest time, the quarterback was quick: “100-yard dash. Track and field.” Given his career rushing stats, it’s a fitting answer.
What started as an embarrassing image has since become a symbol of the classic underdog story. The photo captures a young Brady, standing in his underwear, hoping for a shot to escape a life outside of football.
Ultimately, that shot paid off big time. The Patriots turned that hopeful kid into a six-time Super Bowl winner and AFC powerhouse.
Now, a 12-foot statue of Brady stands outside Gillette Stadium, immortalizing the journey from that viral photo to football legend.
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