While the NFL continues to witness the rise of quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Brock Purdy, the legacy of Tom Brady still shines brightly. His remarkable accomplishments have set a standard that even stars like Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Mahomes, find challenging to surpass.
Anyway, long before Tom Brady became a household name and a football legend, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw playfully introduced the moniker ‘Tom Brady’ into his own story.
Reason behind the existence of “fake” Tom Brady
Terry Bradshaw unwittingly played a pivotal role in introducing Tom Brady as his successor, regardless of knowing him personally. The year was 1983, and Bradshaw, facing elbow surgery, opted for a bit of humor by using the now-iconic name while checking into Doctor’s Hospital in Shreveport, LA.
At that time, the real Tom Brady was just a six-year-old Californian, per CBS News. At that time, the seven-time Super Bowl winner himself was unaware that his name would one day be synonymous with NFL greatness. Bradshaw himself confirmed to Ed Bouchette of The Athletic that indeed, ‘Tom Brady’ was his hospital alias during that memorable stint.
“Tom Brady! How lucky am I?” Bradshaw told The Athletic. “There’s no question he and I are linked at the hip — same initials, same number. I had hair back then. I was a sex symbol. I had it all going then,” he said.
While mirroring Tom Brady’s identity for surgery, the procedure couldn’t recapture the magic for Bradshaw. He remained sidelined until a late-season comeback attempt in the 15th game of 1983. However, his return was short-lived, as a cruel twist of fate saw him re-injure his elbow, forcing him to call it quits the following offseason.
Comparing the two Tom Brady
Terry Bradshaw’s illustrious 14-year career in the NFL formed a bridge between eras, witnessing the twilight of his reign just before the rise of Tom Brady’s dynasty. Known for his larger-than-life personality on and off the field, Bradshaw etched his name into history as the only quarterback to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to back-to-back Super Bowl victories.
While Terry Bradshaw’s career resulted in four Super Bowl wins, Tom Brady’s dominance was undeniable. Early on, he established himself as a force to be reckoned with, guiding the Patriots to consecutive Super Bowl victories. Their paths diverged, and Brady’s legacy continued to soar, culminating in an astounding seven Super Bowl titles.
Terry Bradshaw’s 14-year career saw him complete 2,025 of 3,901 passes for 27,989 yards and 212 touchdowns. In comparison, Tom Brady’s remarkable two-decade career has been unmatched, racking up a staggering 89,214 passing yards and an impressive 649 touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Bradshaw had already joined FOX Sports as an analyst and garnered criticism for one silly mistake. Following his suit, the 46-year-old is also making waves for starting his career as an analyst with Fox Sports.
Their peculiar hospital encounter might forever link Terry Bradshaw and Tom Brady, but their NFL journeys diverged dramatically. While Brady rewrote the record books, etching his name as the undisputed GOAT, Bradshaw secured his legacy as one of the Steelers’ most celebrated quarterbacks, eventually calling it a career.
