Legendary quarterback Tom Brady has come a long way to enjoy the success that he has today. It was never smooth for the Cal native to make it to the top and even start for Michigan, but his consistent efforts to avoid overthinking and trust the process bore fruit.
During a sit-down interview with Patrick Bet-David, Brady opened up about the challenges he endured and the biggest advice he received that eventually made him stay at Michigan and make his place in a star-studded QB room.
The Greatest Advice Tom Brady Has Ever Received
The seven-time Super Bowl champion was never a physically gifted athlete. When he arrived at Michigan in 1995, the youngster was seventh on a loaded QB chart. It almost looked impossible to override the pecking order and become the QB1.
By his second season, Brady had a much clearer picture and made his decision to leave the program. Cal and Berkley were the most suitable options because they were near his home and had a better chance to play QB1.
However, he was summoned by then-Michigan assistant athletic director Greg Harden, who had thought-provoking advice for him.
After his second year at Michigan, Tom Brady wanted to transfer.
He wasn’t playing in games, and he was so low on the depth chart that he only got 2 reps in practice.
Brady met with his coach to express his frustration, “The other quarterbacks get all the reps.”
Coach replied,… pic.twitter.com/EIiriUPreY
— Billy Oppenheimer (@bpoppenheimer) February 11, 2025
Rather than being insecure about what you can’t control, it’s better to focus on what you have and build up on that. This had a great impact on his thinking process.
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“Soon, I was getting four reps. Then 10, and before you knew it—with this new mindset that Greg had instilled in me—to focus on what you can control, to focus on what you’re getting, not what anyone else is getting, to treat every rep like it’s the Super Bowl—eventually, I became the starter,” Brady said when he got the opportunity to start for the program in 1998.
In his junior year, Brady was named the starter since he snatched the opportunity from Drew Hensen, who was already making strides as a trustworthy prospect. Brady led the Wolverines to a 10-3 season and clinched the Big Ten championship.
Above all, with a phenomenal performance against the rival Ohio State, Brady set a new school record for most completions and proved that he was more than just a backup QB waiting for his opportunity.
The following season, he was named captain and continued his progress with a big win over Alabama in the Orange Bowl. He threw for 369 yards and recorded four touchdowns to clinch a dramatic overtime win (35-34).
All these factors made him a successful college QB. But the struggle never stopped there. NFL scouts weren’t pleased by his physical attributes, although he showcased great arm strength and mental toughness. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick’s bet to get him in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft proved to be decisive.
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Brady followed a similar route that he took at Michigan to win the QB1 spot. He superseded Drew Bledsoe to start for the franchise, and the rest is history. His legacy cemented a strong message that never-ending perseverance and grit open gates for one to climb the ladder of greatness.
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