QBs for the ages: How does Tom Brady compare to Terry Bradshaw
Yes, Tom Brady is the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards. And touchdowns. And almost every other passing statistic. But what is remarkable — what sets him apart from most athletes in most sports — is that he is still playing at age 45 and still performing at an elite level.
To put that in perspective, we’ve come up with a list of history’s greatest quarterbacks as a comparison. Each week, we’ll look at the final three seasons of a different quarterback versus what Brady has done with the Bucs in, presumably, his final three seasons.
It’s not a perfect apples-to-apples comparison, because there are differences in eras and most quarterbacks are retired long before 45. But it does give you an idea of how rare it is to see a player still dominating while holding off middle age.
Brady vs. Bradshaw
The set-up: If you check the NFL’s all-time records, Bradshaw is No. 64 in passing yards. Remarkably, he’s behind journeymen quarterbacks such as Jon Kitna and Trent Green. Do not be fooled. In his day, Bradshaw was a big-play, big-game quarterback. He’s the first passer to win four Super Bowls, was a league MVP, a two-time Super Bowl MVP and his .684 winning percentage is fifth in league history.
The end: His skills did not deteriorate, but his body did. Bradshaw led the NFL in passing touchdowns in 1982 and threw for 325 yards in a playoff loss to San Diego but underwent elbow surgery after the season. He was still rehabbing when the 1983 season began and ended up playing in only one game. He retired the following July. Brady has played 163 games since turning 35. Bradshaw played only one.
Bradshaw
Years: 1981-83
Ages: 33-35
Completed 333 of 618 passes with 41 touchdowns and 25 interceptions for 4,732 yards and an 84.1 passer rating. Was 15-9 as a starter.
Brady
Brady in Week 6: Not his worst game in a Bucs uniform, but pretty darned close. The Steelers got some pressure on him, but Brady also misfired on at least a half-dozen different passes. He’s quick to yell at teammates when things go haywire, but Brady may need to take a closer look in the mirror for some of Tampa Bay’s offensive struggles this season.
Years: 2020-22
Ages: 43-45
Has completed 1,052 of 1,576 passes with 91 touchdowns and 25 interceptions for 11,601 yards and a 101.02 passer rating. Is 27-12 as a starter.
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