A look back at the highs and lows of Tom Brady’s legendary 20-year career with the Patriots. Brady, who was a free agent, reached a deal with the Buccaneers on Tuesday:
April 16, 2000: Drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round (199th overall) out of the University of Michigan.
Sept. 23, 2001: Patriots starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe gets injured on a hit along the sideline from Jets linebacker Mo Lewis that causes internal bleeding. Brady enters the game, which the Jets win 10-3.
Sept. 30, 2001: In his first start the following week, the Patriots win 44-13 against the Colts despite Brady throwing for just 168 yards and no touchdowns.
Jan. 19, 2002: Dubbed the infamous “Tuck Game,” Brady appears to fumble the ball on a fourth-quarter drive of his first playoff game against the Raiders, but the call is overturned. Adam Vinatieri field goals force overtime and win the game.
Feb. 3, 2002: Brady engineers a two-minute drive, leading to a game-winning Vinatieri field goal and one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history, 20-17 over the Rams, to give Brady his first ring. It’s the first of four Super Bowl MVPs he would win.
Feb. 1, 2004: History repeats as Brady leads another two-minute drill en route to a Vinatieri game-winner, a 32-29 victory over the Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
Feb. 6, 2005: There’s no last-minute drive needed in a 24-21 victory over the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX, as Brady’s Patriots win a third Lombardi Trophy.
Jan. 15, 2006: Brady suffers his first postseason loss as a pro, a 27-13 loss to Denver in the divisional round. After the season, it’s revealed Brady requires surgery for a sports hernia.
Jan. 7, 2007: Facing the division-rival Jets in the playoffs, Brady throws for two TDs as the Patriots roll, 37-16, in Foxborough.
Jan. 21, 2007: After two previous victories against Peyton Manning in the playoffs, Brady falls short in Indianapolis, as the Colts win the AFC title game, 38-34, to advance to the Super Bowl.
Dec. 29, 2007: Brady completes his first of three MVP regular seasons by beating the Giants 38-35 to finish off a 16-0 campaign, the first in NFL history. His 50 TD passes that season were an NFL record.
Feb. 3, 2008: Trying to complete a 19-0 season, Brady falls short against the Giants in Super Bowl XLII, as his high-powered offense musters just 14 points in a 17-14 upset.
Sept. 7, 2008: Brady tears his ACL in the season-opener against the Chiefs. He misses the rest of the season and the Patriots miss the playoffs, too.
Jan. 10, 2010: The Patriots suffer their first home playoff loss with Brady at quarterback, routed 33-14 by the Ravens.
Jan. 16, 2011: Rex Ryan’s Jets stun Brady at Foxborough in the divisional round, handing the MVP a 28-21 loss.
Feb. 5, 2012: Brady reaches the Super Bowl for a fifth time only to be denied once against by Eli Manning and the Giants, falling 21-17 in Super Bowl XLVI. Afterward, Brady’s supermodel wife Gisele blasts his teammates, saying, “My husband cannot f–king throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time.”
Jan. 19, 2014: Patriots fall to Broncos, 26-16, in the AFC title game, making it nine consecutive seasons without Brady having won a Super Bowl.
Jan. 18, 2015: Brady routs Indianapolis, 45-3, in the AFC title game, but during the game the Colts notify the NFL they suspect the balls the Patriots are using are underinflated, making them easier to catch. This triggers the scandal that would come to be known as “Deflategate.”
Feb. 1, 2015: Brady wins his fourth Super Bowl, his first in a decade, with a 28-24 victory over the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.
May 11, 2015: The NFL suspends Brady four games for his involvement in Deflategate after the Wells Report states Brady likely was aware of the actions of the Patriots’ equipment staff in deflating the footballs.
Sept. 3, 2015: Brady’s suspension is overturned by the U.S. District Court.
Jan. 24, 2016: In their 17th and final meeting, Peyton Manning’s Broncos top Brady’s Patriots, 20-18, in the AFC title game.
April 25: 2016: The U.S. Appeals Court vacates the decision to overturn Brady’s suspension. In July, Brady drops his case and agrees to serve the suspension.
Oct. 9, 2016: In his first game following his four-game ban, Brady throws for 406 yards and 3 TDs in a 33-13 rout of the Browns.
Feb. 5, 2017: Brady rallies the Patriots from a 28-3 deficit to stun the Falcons, 34-28, in overtime to claim Super Bowl LI. He becomes the first quarterback in NFL history to win five Super Bowls.
Feb. 4, 2018: Despite throwing for 505 yards and 3 TDs, Brady and the Pats fall to the Eagles, 41-33, in Super Bowl LII.
Feb. 3, 2019: With a 13-3 victory over the Rams, Brady breaks a tie with Charles Haley to become the only player in NFL history with six Super Bowl wins.
Jan. 4, 2020: Brady throws a pick-six in his final game as a Patriot, a 20-13 defeat against the Titans in the wild-card round.
March 17, 2020: A free agent, Brady announces he plans to sign elsewhere, ending his Patriots career.