Brady’s Unreal Final Years Changed the Definition of Longevity in Sports
Most athletes are retired by 40—Tom Brady was still dominating. In 2021, at age 44, Brady led the entire NFL in both passing yards (5,316) and touchdowns (43). He was named to the Pro Bowl and finished second in MVP voting, outperforming quarterbacks literally half his age. Even more shocking, he won his 7th Super Bowl ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at age 43—becoming the oldest QB to win a title. His late-career resurgence redefined expectations for quarterbacks and athletes in general, proving that elite performance isn’t just for the young.
