Tom Brady has been a professional quarterback for almost 23 seasons in the NFL. Just when you think he’s accomplished everything — the Super Bowls, the MVPs, the seemingly other countless individual statistical milestones of perhaps the greatest quarterback in pro football history — he’s still got some new tricks up his sleeve. Especially in the clutch.
We saw the latest, entirely new, and unique feat of Brady’s career during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ stunning 17-16 comeback win over the New Orleans Saints.
For most of Monday night, New Orleans had Brady and Co. absolutely stifled — much to the displeasure of Peyton Manning and Randy Moss. With just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Saints held what certainly felt like an insurmountable 16-3 lead. And Brady’s displeasure was evident. Even after all the heroic moments of Brady’s career, pulling this one out of the jaws of defeat appeared unlikely.
Once again, we were reminded of the seemingly timeless lesson never to count out Touchdown Tom.
After getting the ball back with 2:26 left in the fourth quarter, Brady marched the Buccaneers right down the field in 11 sharp plays, as he has done so many times. So when he threw a game-winning touchdown pass to Rachaad White, you weren’t necessarily surprised:
Fire those cannons, baby! 💣💥
📺: #NOvsTB on ESPN pic.twitter.com/r4t1nV3fnz
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 6, 2022
But wait, this was actually something new for Brady. With eight seconds on the clock once the ball was snapped, this White TD was the latest touchdown pass of Brady’s career:
With 8 seconds on the clock when the ball was snapped, Tom Brady threw the latest game-winning touchdown pass of his career.
It marks the largest regular-season 4th quarter comeback of Brady's career. pic.twitter.com/fAcDA6tORQ
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 6, 2022
This was the first time Brady (36-of-54, 281 yards, two TDs, one pick) won a regular season game while trailing by 13 points in the fourth quarter. (I’m pretty sure Falcons fans are familiar with the lone win of Brady’s 1-43 mark from his postseason career.) Considering the player, that this was the first instance where Brady ever did it in almost 40 chances as a starter, I’m kind of shocked. I mean, a 13 point-margin is a lot to make up in just 15 minutes of play … but it’s not exactly something I’d have expected to dupe Brady so many times.
So, huh?
Lest I not forget: This was Brady’s 44th career comeback in the fourth quarter and overtime. That surpasses Manning — his long-time rival during their playing careers:
Tom Brady has now completed his 44th come from behind win in the 4th quarter/OT.
That surpasses Peyton Manning for the most in NFL history.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 6, 2022
Questions will remain about whether Brady has enough in him left at age 45, in his 23rd NFL season, to take a patchwork Buccaneers team on a deep playoff run. Those concerns likely remain valid, as the first 57 minutes of Monday night still happened as a stark reminder of where Brady might be in his legendary career.
Nonetheless, it was still something to see the Future First Ballot Hall of Famer inexplicably break a team’s heart once again while pulling a rabbit out of his hat that we’ve, somehow, never seen before.
NFL fans were in awe of the "GOAT" Brady after his stunning late TD pass
Few things feel more inevitable than Tom Brady driving the length of the field on you to drive a nail into your coffin at the end of a game.
— Khari Thompson (@kdthompson5) December 6, 2022
NO ONE is more clutch than Tom Brady
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) December 6, 2022
Plz hear me clearly when I say this:
You will never see anything like Tom Brady again.
— Tanya Ray Fox (@TanyaRayFox) December 6, 2022
Down 16-3 with 5:21 remaining, Tom Brady went 14 of 19 for 118 yards and 2 TDs. He was 2 of 2 for 13 yards and a TD on third down.
45 years old, doing what he did when he was 24.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) December 6, 2022
Tom Brady, the 🐐 of all 🐐’s
— Taylor Lewan (@TaylorLewan77) December 6, 2022
Tom Brady ladies & gentlemen 👍🏾
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) December 6, 2022
Tom Brady pic.twitter.com/sPEYAwr8me
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) December 6, 2022
one thing I learned is you never bet against Tom Brady
— timthetatman👑 (@timthetatman) December 6, 2022
Tom Brady came back because there was one last thing to prove: that he could win the Super Bowl with a losing regular-season record.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) December 6, 2022
It blows my mind that people are still surprised to see Tom Brady do this. Impressed? Sure. But has he not established over the last 22 years how automatic he is?
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) December 6, 2022
Tom Brady 🐐
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) December 6, 2022
Tom Brady threw the game-winning touchdown. It got called back for holding. Then, he did this. He’s the bleeping Terminator. https://t.co/8u4zvt7LTv
— Shahan Ahmed (@shahanLA) December 6, 2022
Im a Saints fan but it was cooler to watch @TomBrady pull off that win. Better story.
— Theo Von (@TheoVon) December 6, 2022
Tom Brady, still got it
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) December 6, 2022
Tom Brady's incredible
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) December 6, 2022
