Is Tom Brady the best quarterback of all time? The GOAT debate settled

Is Tom Brady the best quarterback of all time? The GOAT debate settled

Claudia Kogi
updated at July 14, 2023 at 6:09 AM

The debate to determine who the greatest quarterback of all time is has been going on for decades, and Tom Brady has been at the centre of it. Thanks to the stats and numbers, the debate has been put to rest. So, is Tom Brady the best quarterback of all time, and how did he rise to stardom? Since quarterbacks are known for their accuracy, Tom holds the record for the most career passing completions, attempts, wins, and touchdowns.

Tom Brady is the best quarterback of all time
Tom Brady attends Los Angeles Premiere Screening of Paramount Pictures' "80 For Brady" at Regency Village Theatre on 31 January 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Jon Kopaloff
Source: Getty Images

Who is Tom Brady? He is a former American-based football quarterback who played for the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League for over two decades. The NFL is one of the best leagues in the world, with millions of fans, especially in North America and Canada.

Tom Brady's profile summary

Full name

Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr

Date of birth

3 August 1977

Age

45 years of age (as of July 2023)

Place of birth

San Mateo, California, the United States of America

Active years

2000-2022

Team(s)

New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Achievements and awards

7-times Super Bowl champion, 5-times Super Bowl MVP, 3-times NFL Most Valuable Player, 2-times NFL Offensive Player of the Year, NFL Comeback Player of the Year, 3-times First-team

Records

Most career quarterback wins -251, passing attempts -12,050, completions -7,753, touchdowns -649, yards -89,214

Is Tom Brady the best QB of all time?

According to NFL fans in a Morning Consult survey, Tom Brady is the best quarterback of all time, followed by Joe Montana. In the same study, which was done in the United States of America, non-fans also had their say and ended up selecting him as the best.

Why is Tom Brady the best quarterback of all time?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB, Tom Brady, speaks to the media after losing to the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card playoff game at Raymond James stadium on 16 January 2023 in Tampa, Florida. Photo: Julio Aguilar
Source: Getty Images

The renowned legend is a seven-time Super Bowl winner with several records yet to be broken. In his 23-year career, he has made history in the NFL arena with a passing completion percentage of 64.3%, the most in the franchise.

Is Tom Brady the best quarterback in NFL history?

Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time who made history after making 10 Super Bowl appearances in his career. In doing so, he holds the record for the most Super Bowl appearances and wins by any NFL player in the sport's history.

Although the National Football League had seen some great talents such as Joe Montana, Alex Smith, Joe Theismann, and Aaron Rodgers, Tom was unmatched. In addition to his remarkable achievements, he holds the record for the most passing touchdowns, 581.

Is Tom Brady statistically the best QB of all time?

Is Tom Brady the best quarterback of all time
Tom reacts after a play against the Dallas Cowboys during the fourth quarter in the NFC Wild Card playoff game at Raymond James stadium on 16 January 2023 in Tampa, Florida. Photo: Julio Aguilar
Source: Getty Images

According to statistics from various online sources, several quarterbacks such as Drew Brees, John Elway, Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, and Joe Montana have come forth as contenders for the top honour in the NFL.

Since statistics are based on actual results, records, and achievements of a given athlete, to be considered the best is a challenging task. However, after analysing the statistical outcomes, it was concluded that Tom is the best QB ever to step foot on the turf.

Why is Tom Brady the best quarterback of all time?

Without digging deep for his statistical winnings, accuracies, yardages, scorings, and turnovers, it is clear that Tom Brady is the best quarterback of all time since, unlike other legends, he could do it all. Here are three reasons why he is the best.

  • His legendary resilience – During the 2016/17 season, he was suspended for four games, but due to his determination and love for the game, he continued practising as per his teammates' schedule even though he was 39. This resilience saw him take home Super Bowl 53 after losing it the previous year.
  • His seven rings – He has made ten historic Super Bowl appearances and won seven of them, and although he did it with different teams, his success is attributed to his football composure and skills.
  • His ability to control and command the field – He understood what it meant to be a QB, and thus he not only showed his football skills but also commanded respect with his leadership skills. He coordinated his teammates with his thinking ability to ensure a perfect defence and offence.

Who is a better quarterback than Tom Brady?

Although there have been great QBs in history, none of them has even come close to the former Patriots and Buccaneers legend. However, on some rare occasions, Joe Montana was on top of Tom when he attained 61.6% in a regular season.

Who is the toughest quarterback of all time?

The toughest QB of all time is none other than Brett Favre. He played for the Minnesota Vikings during his forties and became a Hall of Famer while he was with the Green Bay Packers. Additionally, he was an MVP three times and Pro Bowler 11 times.

Which QB has lost to all 32 teams?

Although no QB in NFL history has lost to all 32 NFL teams, Matt Ryan has come close with 29 losses to different teams. However, in sports history, four QBs, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Tom Brady, have more than 32 wins in all NFL teams.

Tom Brady is the best quarterback of all time
Tom Brady warms up prior to the start of the NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons on 8 January 2023 at Mercedes-Benz stadium in Atlanta, GA. Photo: Rich von Biberstein
Source: Getty Images

What makes Tom Brady the greatest of all time?

The retired QB is considered the greatest of all time since he has bagged three NFL MVP awards and selected first-team All-Pro three times, seven times Super Bowl, and 15 times Pro Bowl.

Who is the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL?

The highest-paid QB in history is Lamar Jackson. He made a record high after signing a five-year extension contract with the Baltimore Ravens worth $260 million.

Although it has proven difficult to determine who is the GOAT in a given sport based on the fan base, fans are known to have die-hard heroes for their favourite sports. Is Tom Brady the best quarterback of all time, and how many Super Bowls has he taken home are just among the questions that come to mind when the renowned legend is mentioned.

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Authors
Claudia Kogi photo
Claudia Kogi
Claudia Kogi is a Kenyan content creator with over 3 years of experience. Claudia joined Sportsbrief.com as a writer in January 2022, covering sports and relatable content.