Tom Brady turns the big 4-4, and we’re here to observe it

A candle or two may flicker on Tuesday at AdventHealth Training Center, where Tom Brady and Ronald Jones Jr. both celebrate birthdays.

Thing is, one was born in the era of polyester (1977), the other in the era of Pearl Jam (1997). At 44, Brady is old enough to be the dad of a number of guys in his own locker room, and we can’t let that fact go unrecognized.

In observance of the Canton-bound quarterback getting one step closer to the half-century mark, we’ve compiled a by-the-numbers look at Brady’s life and career, from No. 1 to 44.

1 Best Male Athlete ESPYs won by Brady, who finally received the award in 2021 after three previous nominations

2 NFL all-decade teams to which Brady has been named (2000s and 2010s)

3 NFL MVP awards won by Brady (2007, 2010, 2017)

4 Children in Brady’s family (he has three older sisters)

5 Seasons in which Brady has thrown at least 35 regular season touchdown passes*

6 Round in which Brady was selected (199th overall pick) by the Patriots in 2000

7 Super Bowl titles won by Brady (six in New England, one in Tampa Bay)*

8 Consecutive games won by Brady and Tampa Bay (a franchise record) to end 2020 season

9 Postseason fourth-quarter comebacks engineered by Brady

10 Touchdown passes thrown by Brady in 2020 postseason (including three in Super Bowl 55)

11 Offensive Player of the Month awards won by Brady (10 AFC, one NFC)

12 Years that Brady has been married to Brazilian model Gisele Bundchen

13 Players who have caught a touchdown pass from Brady in a Super Bowl

14 Brady’s total Pro Bowl selections*

15 Length of Brady’s longest run from scrimmage in a playoff game (2016 season)

16 Consecutive completions thrown by Brady in Super Bowl 46, a 21-17 loss to the Giants*

17 Division titles won by the Patriots with Brady as starting quarterback

18 Round in which Brady was drafted by the Montreal Expos (as a left-handed-batting catcher) in 1995

19 NFL seasons in which Brady has been a primary starter (he was a backup in 2000, and missed nearly all of 2008 with an injury)

20 Brady’s age when quarterback Kyle Trask, the Bucs’ second-round pick last spring, was born

21 Super Bowl touchdown passes by Brady*

22 Yards gained in Brady’s longest run from scrimmage in an NFL game (in 2006)

23 Completions by Brady (in 33 attempts) in Super Bowl 39, a 24-21 win against the Eagles

24 Brady’s age when he led New England to a win in Super Bowl 36. At the time, he was the youngest Super Bowl-winning QB ever.

25 Consecutive starts made by Brady at the University of Michigan. He finished 20-5 as a Wolverines starter.

26 Brady’s age when he won his second Super Bowl, in 2004. He remains the youngest starting quarterback to win two Super Bowls.

27 Playoff games in which Brady has thrown two or more touchdown passes*

28 Touchdown passes thrown by Brady in 2002, his first NFL regular season in which he started all 16 games

29 Official kickoff temperature of last season’s NFC title game in Green Bay, where Brady passed for 280 yards, three touchdowns and three picks in a 31-26 triumph

30 Brady’s age when he led New England’s 2007 team to an 18-0 record before its 17-14 loss to the Giants in Super Bowl 42

31 Career touchdown passes by Brady at Junipero Serra High in San Mateo, Calif.

32 Completions by Brady in his first playoff game, a 16-13 overtime win vs. Oakland on Jan. 19, 2002 (the “Tuck Rule” game)

33 Brady’s pre-draft score on the Wonderlic test, considered well above average for NFL prospects

34 Brady’s total playoff victories as a starting quarterback*

35 Career touchdown passes thrown by Brady at the University of Michigan (1996-99)

36 Fourth-quarter comebacks led by Brady (resulting in win or tie) in 20 regular seasons at New England

37 Completions by Brady in a 28-24 win vs. Seattle in Super Bowl 39. At the time, the total was a Super Bowl record (eventually broken by Brady).

38 Playoff interceptions thrown by Brady*

39 Fourth-quarter comebacks led by Brady in the regular season

40 Regular season touchdown passes by Brady in 2020, second-highest total of his career

41 Times Brady was sacked in 2001, his first full season as a starter (it remains a career high)

42 Career playoff points scored by Brady (on seven touchdown runs)

43 Passes completed by Brady in Super Bowl 51, when New England rallied for a 34-28 overtime win against Atlanta*

44 Age Brady turns on Aug. 3

* NFL record that Brady owns or shares