How Tom Brady Became the Greatest Draft Steal in Sports History
The future NFL legend was passed over by every team multiple times before turning the 199th pick into one of the most famous numbers in sports.
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• New England Patriots v Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Wembley Stadium. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
• Licensed Photo: PA Images / Alamy
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Tom Brady's draft story is often told as a New England Patriots success story.
It's really an NFL-wide mistake.
When the Patriots selected Brady with the 199th pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, six quarterbacks had already been chosen. Nearly every team in the league had multiple opportunities to draft the future face of the sport and decided someone else was a better bet (NFL Draft History; Pro Football Hall of Fame).
That's what makes Brady's rise so remarkable. The most accomplished quarterback of his era wasn't hidden. Scouts watched him. Coaches evaluated him. Teams studied his college film. They simply didn't see what was coming.
It's really an NFL-wide mistake.
When the Patriots selected Brady with the 199th pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, six quarterbacks had already been chosen. Nearly every team in the league had multiple opportunities to draft the future face of the sport and decided someone else was a better bet (NFL Draft History; Pro Football Hall of Fame).
That's what makes Brady's rise so remarkable. The most accomplished quarterback of his era wasn't hidden. Scouts watched him. Coaches evaluated him. Teams studied his college film. They simply didn't see what was coming.
