20 things about Tom Brady you may not have known
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Tom Brady is one of the best players in NFL history.
At 43 years old, Brady owns six Super Bowl rings and is currently leading his Tampa Bay Buccaneers through a deep playoff run.
Although Brady is one of the best-known players in the NFL, there are plenty of surprising facts about him that most casual fans just don't know.
Check out 20 things you probably didn't know about Tom Brady below:
1. Brady spent two years as a backup at the University of Michigan
Brady arrived in Ann Arbor as the seventh-string quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines. He spent two years backing up future NFL quarterback Brian Griese before winning the battle against Drew Henson to start under center during his junior season. Even after two successful years, Brady wasn't sure he would make it to the NFL, so he made a resumé as a backup plan.
2. He was famously taken with the 199th overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft
That's right. 198 players were selected in that year's draft class — including six other quarterbacks — before the New England Patriots took Brady in the 6th round. It's safe to say it was the sleeper pick of the century.
Read more: WHERE ARE THEY NOW? The first-round picks from Tom Brady's infamous 2000 NFL Draft
3. He has more Super Bowl appearances than any other player in NFL history
Super Bowl LIII marked Tom Brady's ninth career Super Bowl appearance, three more than any other player in NFL history. With the Patriots' win, Brady broke his tie with pass rusher Charles Haley to win his NFL record sixth Super Bowl ring.
Read more: The NFL quarterbacks who have played in and won the most Super Bowls
4. And he's won more than any other quarterback in the regular season
Read more: Tom Brady is the NFL's all-time winningest regular-season quarterback
5. Brady is the second-highest paid player in NFL history
Brady has already earned $261.8 million in his 21-year NFL career, good enough to make him the second-highest paid player in the history of the league. He also makes many millions more annually through endorsement deals with companies like Under Armour, Intel, Beats by Dre, and Shields.
6. But he still makes less money than his wife
Brady's earnings may sound enormous, but they're actually nothing compared to his wife's. Gisele Bündchen was the world's top-earning supermodel for 10 consecutive years and is reportedly on pace to make $1 billion in career earnings.
7. Brady has two sons and a daughter
Three months into his relationship with Gisele, Brady learned that his ex-girlfriend was pregnant with his child. In addition to his eldest son, Jack, Brady and Bündchen went on to have a son, Benny, and a daughter, Vivian.
Read more:
A look inside the marriage of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and supermodel Gisele Bundchen
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8. He and Gisele also have three dogs
The Brady-Bündchen household must be a pretty hectic one. In addition to the three kids, Gisele and Tom have three dogs: Lua, Scooby, and Fluffy. Thankfully they can spread out between their multiple extravagant homes.
9. Brady keeps a very strict diet
Brady and Bündchen's diet prevents them from eating sugar, dairy, and tomatoes. According to their personal chef, 80% of what they eat is vegetables. They also eat avocado ice cream as a treat. Brady has published "The TB12 Method" to teaach others about his nuanced approach to diet and wellness.
Read more: Tom Brady's diet is so strict that it excludes an entire group of vegetables
10. He doesn't train like a typical athlete
Unlike most other football players, Brady avoids traditional weight training and instead opts for resistance bands to increase pliability and flexibility. He believes long, soft muscles lead to peak performance.
11. He also does everything he can to keep his mind sharp
Brady uses brain exercises intended for people struggling with issues ranging from memory loss to cognitive damage with the hopes of improving his cognitive function.
12. Brady is ridiculously competitive
Past teammates had described instances in which Brady had broken ping pong paddles and thrown backgammon boards across the room when he was losing. He also once gave his team a pep talk before a charity football game against a group of firefighters.
Read more: 38 examples of Tom Brady's insane competitiveness
13. He sacrificed more than $60 million to make sure the Patriots were consistently one of the best teams in the NFL
He would not enjoy playing with a team that couldn't compete for championships.
14. But he fell asleep in the locker room before his first Super Bowl
Clearly the nerves didn't get to him.
15. Brady loves to drop F-bombs to relieve tension on the field
"There's nothing that quite expresses the way I feel like that word," Brady said.
Read more: Tom Brady Explains Why He Loves The F-Word
16. Despite his success with the Patriots, he long considered moving on to another franchise
He and head coach Bill Belichick butted heads often throughout their time together.
17. Gisele wants him to retire
She doesn't know what more he could possibly accomplish in the NFL.
18. But he dominated the NFL with the Patriots throughout his 30s
Read more: Chart shows just how dominant Tom Brady was in his 30s
19. And he's proven that he can still play amongst the best in his 40s
He's blowing former 40-year-old NFL players out of the water.
Read more: Tom Brady is already making a mockery of the NFL records for 40-year-old quarterbacks
20. He fully intends to play until he's 45 years old
Yes, you heard that correctly. Brady insists he has another two seasons ahead of him.
Read more: Tom Brady says he still plans to play until he's 45
Now check out how Brady and his supermodel wife make and spend their millions:
Tom Brady is leading the Buccaneers through their first playoff run in over a decade. Here's how the quarterback and his supermodel wife Gisele Bündchen make and spend their millions.
Read the original article on Business Insider
