New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady Still Going Strong at 41

Cam Cobey, Maroon-News Staff|November 16, 2018

At 41 years old, quarterback Tom Brady is well into his 19th season in the NFL with the New England Patriots, and he is still one of the best quarterbacks today. So, how does he sustain such excellence in today’s demanding game?

Brady has won five Super Bowls with the Patriots, his first in 2002 at 24 years old, which made him the youngest quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl, and his most recent in 2017 at 39 years old, making him the oldest quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl. Brady has simply gotten better as time has gone on.

From 2001-2009 (not counting 2008, in which he missed 15 games due to injury), Brady threw for 225 touchdowns (TDs), 30,838 yards, a completion percentage of 63.4 percent and a quarterback rating of 93.4.

From 2010-2017, Brady threw for 263 TDs, 35,315 yards, a completion percentage of 64.5 and a quarterback rating of 101.5. Each one of his stats significantly improved as he got older, which is unusual as many quarterbacks simply fade out of the league in the latter stages of their careers. But not Brady.

It is unbelievable how productive Brady still is at this stage of his career. He is one of three quarterbacks in NFL history to throw for over 25 TDs and have a completion percentage over 66 percent over the age of 40, joining the likes of Warren Moon and Brett Favre. After ten games this season, he is on pace to do it again in 2018.

A main reason why he has not stopped is because he is still winning with consistency. He’s been to three of the past four Super Bowls, winning two of them, and is show- ing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. He has also expressed no desire to retire. In the documentary “Tom vs Time,” he has mentioned playing until he is 45-years-old. “It’ll be a challenge for me. I don’t think it’s going to be easy. I think I’m not ready to say that I’m done because I don’t feel like I am,” Brady said.

So how does he do it? How is he still one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL despite his age?

For one, he has one of the best coaches in NFL history, Bill Belichick. Belichick has been with Brady since the very beginning of Brady’s career, and the two have formed one of the greatest player coach duo of all time, if not the best.

Another reason for his success is his TB12 (Tom Brady, #12) sports method. Brady launched TB12 in 2016, and published a book in 2017, discussing how to achieve a lifetime of sustained peak performance.

TB12 is all about pliability, nutrition, hydration and cognitive health to prepare the body and mind for sustained performance. Brady changed much of his diet, trained in a different way with trainer Alex Guerrero, and changed his lifestyle through TB12. This approach and diligent form of preparation has certainly contributed to his continued success in the NFL.

Don’t be surprised if you see Brady and the Patriots back in the Super Bowl come February.

He may be the oldest quarterback in the NFL, but he is performing at a peak level and is showing no signs of slowing down through the first 10 games of 2018.

Contact Cam Cobey at [email protected].