"I've been so blessed": When Tom Brady opened up to Terry Bradshaw about his emotional journey to epic Super Bowl 51 comeback
Super Bowl 51 has been an important milestone in the career of NFL legend Tom Brady. It was Brady’s seventh Super Bowl match, with four wins and two losses. So, with a fifth Super Bowl in sight, it was Brady’s moment to etch his name in the history books.
Super Bowl 51 between the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots was held on Feb. 5, 2017, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Hence, Brady was sitting next to FOX analyst and commentator Terry Bradshaw in a video made by FOX just days before Super Bowl 51. Bradshaw, a former QB of the Pittsburgh Steelers, held the previous record with four Super Bowl wins. So, when Bradshaw asked Brady about his feelings for the new record, an emotional Brady responded:
“I never imagined being in this situation. I've just been so blessed. I got to the Patriots at the right time. Coach Belichick got there, and we've been on this magical run. I still feel like we're in it.”
Bill Belichick reveals why he picked Tom Brady
Brady was referring to his NFL draft in 2000 at #199. Former Patriots coach Bill Belichick joined the team in January 2000, a few months before Brady's arrival. Speaking to Chris Price of WWEI.com about Brady's selection, Belichick said:
“The next pick was Tom Brady. The value board at that point really clearly put him as the top value.”
“He's a good, tough, competitive, smart quarterback that is a good value, and how he does and what he'll be able to do, we'll just put him out there with everybody else and let him compete and see what happens,” Belichick added.
Brady then became a starter by week three of the 2001 season to start the Brady-Belichick era that is etched in history books. Together, they won six Super Bowls. Brady left the Patriots in 2020 for personal reasons.
Brady and Bradshaw shared a lot in common besides the Super Bowl victories. They both shared the same jersey number (12). However, they share another relationship that was established in 1983, when Brady was just six years old.
Terry Bradshaw and Tom Brady in 1983
Brady’s former Patriots teammates, Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, were talking on their newly launched podcast, "Dudes on Dudes." Edelman then revealed an anecdote from 1983 when Bradshaw wanted to keep his identity in disguise:
“In 1983, he needed to get an elbow surgery. He didn’t want it to be in the papers, so he used an alias name at the Louisiana hospital. You know what that name was? Tom frickin' Brady.”
Now, after retirement, Brady has joined Bradshaw in the FOX commentary box.