tom brady’s rise to nfl greatness

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is an inspirational role model for anyone who is committed to personal mastery and living a life of greatness filled with extraordinary feats. Whether you follow NFL or not, we can all learn something from the inspirational story of how Brady became one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history leading Patriots to five Super Bowl wins.

As a freshman at the University of Michigan, Brady was a skinny kid who had just lost 25 pounds due to appendicitis when he started out as the seventh quarterback on the roster. He was committed to becoming the starting quarterback and accomplished that in his junior year. But as he entered his senior year, things got tough for him as he had to compete with the highly praised Dre Henson. After much consideration, Brady finally won the position and went to lead his team to a win at the Orange Bowl.

But even after this victory, only a few people believed in him. He was chosen by the Patriots with the 199th pick in the 2000 draft. (For those who are not familiar with the NFL Draft, there are total seven rounds with about 250 picks each year.)

He was the seventh quarterback chosen but he endured this disappointment and looked ahead.

Brady barely made the Patriots roster as the fourth string quarterback his rookie season but he kept working his tail off. He continued to work and prepare as a starting quarterback. Finally in 2001, when starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe was injured, Brady got his chance to shine, and the rest as they say is history.

What distinguishes Tom Brady is his unwavering commitment towards achieving greatness and his never give up attitude. An important lesson that we all can learn from his accomplishments is the way he uses adversities and disappointments to fuel himself and his commitment to become the best that he can be. Even in the face of his doubters and critics, and in the proximity of ephemeral failures, he keeps going. He sustains his grit and keeps persevering no matter what. And the outcome is extraordinary achievement.