Tom Brady once revealed how two practice reps helped him advance in Michigan roster: "I'd sprint in there like it was Super Bowl 49"
Former Michigan Wolverines quarterback and NFL legend Tom Brady had an eventful career in Ann Arbor, only clinching the QB1 spot during his last two years there. The frustrations of being so low on the depth chart almost led the young Brady to transfer to the California Golden Bears before being reassured by coach Lloyd Carr.
During an interview with "VT.com," in Sept. 2023, the seven-time Super Bowl champion revealed how former Michigan counselor Greg Harden helped change his attitude starting with training, which led to his continued stay in Ann Arbor (3:10).
"There was a certain amount of repetition in practice," Brad said. "The starter would get twenty, the backup would get ten and I would get two. And I would go in and I would say, 'Well, how can I get better? All these guys get all the reps and I get two.' And he said, 'Just go in there and focus with the two that you got and make them as perfect as you possibly can.'"
"So I said, 'Okay.' That's what I did. They'd put me in for those two, man I'd sprint in there like it was Super Bowl 49. 'Let's go boys, what play do we got?' And I did really well with those two cause I brought enthusiasm, I brought some energy and I had a little bit more confidence in myself and it went from two reps to getting four reps, to ten reps."
Tom Brady recalls his freshman season with Wolverines
When Tom Brady joined the Michigan Wolverines, he was seventh on the depth chart and he redshirted his first season in 1995. The next two seasons were spent battling undisputed starter Brian Griese, who led the team to an unbeaten 1997 season.
During the same interview with Patrick Bet-David, Brady revealed how much he struggled during his early Michigan career.
"I remember showing up my first day of freshman year," Brady said. "I didn't care how much hair I had under my arms and all that, and the other kids came in shaving and I'm like, 'What the hell is this?' I didn't know how to put the pads on in my pants when I tried out for freshman football. I'd never play until that point, except in the streets," Brady said.
Eventually in 1998, Tom Brady battled Drew Henson for the QB1 spot, winning out and leading the Michigan Wolverines to both the Citrus and Orange Bowl wins on his way to a 20-5 record as a full-time starter.