Tom Brady is known for many things, but his ability stay relentlessly locked in, while mentoring young quarterbacks is often overlooked.
The 42-year-old quarterback has spent 20 seasons with the New England Patriots and has been at the helm for 18 of those years. Brady spent most of the 2001 season on the bench behind Drew Bledsoe and he missed 2008 with an ACL injury.
This has left no room for his backup quarterbacks to shine in New England, but many of them have went on to have successful careers. Guys like Matt Cassel and Brian Hoyer went on to have successful careers as journeymen — while Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett are doing pretty well in their roles as starting quarterbacks. There were players like Rohan Davey and Ryan Mallett, who didn’t find their way in the league.
But, as Brady’s wisdom increased as a quarterback and mentor, his peers’ ability to branch off and become successful increased as well. Brissett and Garoppolo are the best examples of this.
Brissett was thrown into the starting role with the Indianapolis Colts in 2019 after Andrew Luck announced his retirement at the very last minute. He threw for 2,942 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions. This was with an injured T.Y. Hilton, who played in 10 games and only had 500 yards. Brissett had minimal time to prepare as the team’s starter, and he pulled away with a 7-8 record. His composure under pressure and ability to gain trust from his team is the reason that the Colts will be in good hands in 2020.
Garoppolo was a star in the making and he spent three seasons learning from Brady. He devoured information and was shaping up to be the Brady’s successor, but he found himself with the San Francisco 49ers before that could transpire. Now, Garoppolo and the 49ers are en route to the Super Bowl and he boasts a career record of 24-5.
After three years in the same locker room, Garoppolo spoke highly of Brady and his work ethic.
“That’s the impressive thing. After so many weeks in the season, guys start to get tired and pack it in. He just keeps grinding,” Garoppolo said. “To do it for such a long time — I’m telling you. It’s one of those things you feel like a robot doing it for 17 weeks straight. (His preparation) is impressive.”
He’s been like a big brother to me,” Garoppolo continued. “It’s very competitive. Arguments break out and stuff like that, but it’s just very competitive. It’s just great being around (Brady and Brissett).”
Brady isn’t always the serious and fierce competitor, he likes to have fun and even prank his teammates. In a feature by our own, Henry McKenna, he elaborates on a time Brady pranked Cassel. Brady removed the tires from his car, three of which were in his locker, and the fourth was hidden elsewhere in the facility.
“I go outside and my car is on blocks,” Cassel said. “Everyone’s laughing. I had to get a ride home from my roommate, because he wouldn’t give me my tire back.”
Above all, Cassel explained how Brady treats his teammates and doesn’t put himself on the pedestal.
“He is what you would hope someone of his stature in the game would be,” Cassel said. ”He’s a solid guy who treats people with respect. … They don’t understand how loyal he is with his friends.”
Whether it’s time to be serious or joke around, Brady is engaged and playing a leadership role for his peers. His most recent task is Jarrett Stidham, who was drafted by the Patriots in the fourth round in 2019. For the first time in Brady’s career, he’s entering free agency. If Brady were to leave, Stidham would be the only quarterback who was with the team in 2019 — potentially leaving him with the starting gig.
Stidham elaborated on the knowledge he learned from Brady in 2019.
“It was priceless,” Stidham said. “It’s going to be really cool one day when I can sit there and tell my children, or my grandkids one day, that I got to be in the same quarterback room and talking about coverages and different passing concepts with Tom.”
Brady’s future is unknown with the Patriots, but it’s hard to believe he left his current successor without the tools to lead this team. Brady, the six-time Super Bowl champion, made sure to put intention and care into everything he’s done — including the nurturing of his backup quarterbacks.
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