Happy Birthday, TB42!

Christian Martinelli

Today is Tom Brady’s 42nd birthday, and it’s crazy to think he still arguably the best player in the National Football League. It’s been said many times before, but what he’s doing has never been done before by anyone in the history of sports. 

Still having success at such an advanced age is like nothing we have ever seen before, and is unprecedented. Especially in football.

All that being said, I think my gift to Tom this year should be my thoughts on what he’s meant to New England fans and myself over the last two decades, and how he’s left his mark on this region for eternity.

Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Junior.

Weirdly enough when I was four years old I remember laying in my parents’ bed watching the game against the Jets and seeing Drew Bledsoe get knocked out of the game. It’s actually my earliest memory of football altogether. I don’t remember anything before, but I can visually remember that moment in time for one reason or another.

Then I remember the Super Bowl. I don’t remember anything about it besides Adam Vinatieri’s last second kick. The game changed all of New England sports fandom forever though. It turned Brady into the star quarterback. It made Belichick a worthwhile coach. It revamped a fanbase that had been tortured for decades.

From that moment on the history of football was changed forever, and the greatest dynasty in American sports history was built. The Patriots went from zero to hero. Most of it has to do with Tom and everything he brings to the table physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Over the decades he’s given us a reason to get excited for Sunday, and not just see it as a day that leads into the worst day of the week. He’s given an entire generation an immense love for the game of football, and inspired hundreds of thousands- maybe millions- to be just like him. 

He is showing all of us that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. That no matter how tough your situation is you can always persevere and get through it. 

He shows that although you may be doubted, the only person that can stop you from being the best is you. Through hard work and motivation anything can be accomplished, and the unathletic sixth round pick turned into the greatest football player of all time has proven that.

Brady has done so much for this entire region not just as a player, but also as a man. He’s helped Patriots fans in more ways than we may even understand, and we’ll always be extremely grateful for what he was able to accomplish for us. Luckily for Patriots fans, there are still years left of this greatness. Brady looks just about as good as he ever has at the ripe age of 42.

Six championships later and he still comes to work with the mentality that he’s just one of the guys. That’s what makes TB12 so special. I would never doubt Brady, so I’m going to assume that he won’t be stopping anytime soon, and that his play might even improve this year to be better than it has in the past. 

There’s no doubting this man, no matter what. He’s proven time and time again he can always get it done. The greatest quarterback, football player, and athlete of all time. 

Happy birthday Thomas Edward Patrick Brady.

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