Tom Brady
Tom Brady has been as much of the digital-age surge as any athlete. Besides being the main arc for a few media outlets, personalities and websites, Brady has amassed a considerable following on social media—outside of Boston, San Mateo, or Michigan, too—and is one of the top influencers in sports. He has managed to overcome the branding difficulty with NFLers—becoming known beyond the face mask—for a decade-plus (See: Long Hair and guys who grew theirs after TB), and has close to nine million followers on Instagram and nearly another million on Twitter.
Whether he’s updating his personal brand, TB12, which provides nutritional guidance, lifestyle info, and even apparel options, or letting fans take a glimpse into family time—and yes, aiding the “Dad bod” hysteria—Brady’s ability to be topical and influential is as simple as hitting “send.”