While growing up, Brady often attended San Francisco 49ers games to watch the legendary quarterback Joe Montana (Montana, Joe)—Brady's idol and the man to whom he would eventually be compared—play during the 1980s. In high school Brady excelled in both football and baseball. He entered the major league baseball draft in 1995 and was picked by the Montreal Expos, but he decided instead to attend the University of Michigan and play football. Brady, who did not start until his junior year, led Michigan to victory in the 1999 Orange Bowl and gained a reputation as a determined and intelligent player but one who lacked any exceptional physical skills. In 2000 he was chosen in the sixth round of the NFL draft by New England, and he worked diligently during his first season to bulk up physically and improve his strength and technique.

In the second game of the 2001 season, the Patriots' starting quarterback, Drew Bledsoe, was injured, and Brady was chosen to fill the position. His play was not spectacular, but he was consistent, making simple plays and minimizing mistakes. With Brady as their starting quarterback, the Patriots went on to post an 11–3 record in the regular season and to upset the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI; Brady was named the Super Bowl MVP. The Patriots became one of the NFL's elite teams, posting an incredible 40–12 record during Brady's first three seasons. In 2004 the team returned to the Super Bowl, defeating the Carolina Panthers and earning Brady another Super Bowl MVP award. The momentum carried through to the 2004–05 season, as the Patriots extended their consecutive win streak to 21, breaking the record of 18 set by the Miami Dolphins in 1972–73. Brady and the Patriots capped off the season with their third Super Bowl in four years, this time against the Philadelphia Eagles. In the 2007–08 season Brady threw a record 50 touchdown passes, and he led New England to the first 16–0 regular season in NFL history. However, the Patriots lost to the underdog New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII. In the first game of the 2008–09 NFL schedule, Brady suffered a severe knee injury that required season-ending surgery. While not the strongest or the quickest quarterback in the NFL, Brady established himself among the game's greats for his tenacity, his intelligent playmaking abilities, and the remarkable leadership he provided under pressure.