"He lives for that s--t”: When Tom Brady's former teammate Jimmy Garoppolo commented on QB's late-game Super Bowl composure
Tom Brady has an incredible record in the Super Bowl, winning seven times out of 10 appearances. He is undoubtedly one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history, with one of the best playoff-win ratios. However, what set him apart was his ability to maintain composure during the crucial moments of high-pressure games.
Brady’s composure was on display for the New England Patriots against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX at Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ, in 2015.
He played a near-perfect fourth quarter, throwing only two incompletions on his last 15 passes as he helped the Patriots overturn a 10-point deficit and take a 28-24 lead. Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler's goalline interception off a Russell Wilson throw sealed the win in the final seconds.
Jimmy Garoppolo, who was the backup QB for the Patriots at the time, discussed Brady's performance with the media after the game.
“For him to do that—8-for-8 on the final drive, right?—that’s as big as a moment gets,” Garoppolo said. “Obviously, he lives for that sh*t.”
Brady completed 37 of 50 passes for 328 yards and four touchdowns. He also had two interceptions and finished with a rating of 101.1.
Brandon LaFell, who had four receptions for 29 yards and a touchdown, also hailed Brady’s late-game demeanor.
“Man, it was just … it was serious,” LaFell said.
The Patriots tallied an impressive 28 points against one of the best defenses in NFL history. The Seahawks ranked No. 1 in multiple categories, including yards allowed, scoring defense, and passing defense.
They were known for shutting down receivers, and on the big day, they targeted tight end Rob Gronkowski. But Brady improvised, making wide receiver Julian Edelman his favorite target.
Edelman had nine receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown.
Although Tom Brady delivered an even better performance against the Falcons in Super Bowl LI, this game remains etched in the memories of his fans.