Tom Brady‘s journey from overlooked college quarterback to seven-time Super Bowl champion has long been one of the NFL’s greatest underdog stories.
On Wednesday in Las Vegas, the legendary quarterback made sure no one forgot how improbable that journey was.
Speaking at the unveiling of the Hall of Excellence at the Fontainebleau resort, Brady used the platform to fire off a well-timed jab at the NFL scouts who doubted him in 2000.
“So I had a decent college career, unbeknownst by any of the professional scouts, those are real geniuses, and that draft card got turned in in the sixth round, 199th pick overall,” Brady said, according to a video captured by Vegas Sports Today.
The line, delivered with trademark sarcasm, drew laughter and applause from those in attendance – but it was more than just a joke. It was a subtle reminder of how Brady has used skepticism and doubt as fuel throughout his record-breaking career.
Back in 2000, coming out of the University of Michigan, Brady was hardly a surefire NFL prospect. Despite his poise and leadership at Michigan, scouts picked apart his game. They labeled him too slow, too lanky, and lacking elite arm talent. His now-famous 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine was among the slowest of any quarterback that year, and his performance left little to impress onlookers.
That evaluation led to him slipping deep into the sixth round of the draft, where the New England Patriots took a flier on him with pick No. 199, a selection that would eventually go down as one of the greatest draft steals in sports history.
From sixth-round pick to NFL icon
Brady‘s career has been a monument to perseverance, precision, and competitive fire. He spent 20 seasons with the Patriots, where he led the franchise to six Super Bowl titles, three MVP awards, and a reputation as the league’s most feared clutch performer. He then added a seventh Super Bowl ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, silencing any whispers that his success was merely a product of the New England system.
Beyond the rings and records, Brady‘s story became a blueprint for late-round players hoping to defy expectations. Over the years, he’s often referenced his draft-day humiliation, never forgetting how teams passed on him repeatedly.
Now retired and embarking on new ventures, including his broadcasting role with FOX Sports and numerous business partnerships, Brady continues to embrace his status as the ultimate long shot who made it. His appearance at the Hall of Excellence was less about nostalgia and more about honoring greatness, a category he’s long since cemented his place in.
Read the full article here
