Tom Brady rocked the NFL landscape on Tuesday morning when he announced that he would not be returning to the New England Patriots. We don't know where he will be playing in 2020 just yet, but we do know that it won't be in Foxborough.
While this is something that everyone was prepared for, it doesn't make it any less shocking.
Brady playing for a team other than the Patriots? It just doesn't seem right.
But regardless of where Brady decides to sign, nothing can possibly alter what he accomplished in New England over the first 20 years of his career, winning six Super Bowl titles and establishing himself as the greatest quarterback to ever play the game.
So, let's reminisce with Brady's top three moments as a Patriot:
3. Avenging the Deflategate suspension
No one could ever forget the whole “Deflategate” scandal in 2014 and 2015, when Brady and the Patriots were apparently illegally under-inflating footballs to gain an advantage, something that reached a boiling point during New England's AFC Championship Game victory over the Indianapolis Colts in January 2015.
Well, the NFL investigated the Pats, and it resulted in Tom Brady being suspended for the first four games of 2016.
Perhaps not so surprisingly, Brady lit it up upon returning, embarking on what was one of the best stretches of his career for the remainder of that regular season, throwing 28 touchdowns and just two interceptions.
Then, of course, Brady led the Patriots back from a 28-3 halftime deficit against the Atlanta Falcons in the Super Bowl, leading New England to an overtime victory.
Hell hath no fury like a Tom Brady scorned.
2. The last one
Brady won his sixth Super Bowl during the 2018-19 campaign, and it came against all odds.
Due to some shaky performances throughout the regular season, some doubted Brady heading into the playoffs, asserting that Father Time had finally caught up with the future Hall-of-Famer.
Not surprisingly, Tom Brady instantly quelled those detractors with a virtuoso performance in a Divisional Round win over the Los Angeles Chargers and then by outdueling Patrick Mahomes in an overtime triumph over the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
Finally, Brady made just enough plays to push the Patriots to a 13-3 Super Bowl victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
Many thought New England's run was already over at this point, so the fact that Brady pulled another one out of his hat further added to his legend.
1. When it all began
By now, you know how Brady's run with the Patriots started.
After spending his entire rookie campaign in 2000 behind Drew Bledsoe, Brady was pressed into action in Week 2 of the 2001 season after Brady took a hard hit from New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis, which caused internal bleeding.
Tom Brady took over for the remainder of that game, which ended up being a 10-3 loss that dropped New England to 0-2 on the year.
However, from that point on, Brady and the Pats went on a roll, finishing the season 11-5 and marching into the playoffs with a first-round bye in their pocket.
The Patriots proceeded to make it all the way to the Super Bowl, where Brady and Co. stunned the heavily favored Rams for their first Super Bowl championship.
Who knew that would mark the beginning of one of the greatest dynasties sports has ever seen, one that would be led by a sixth-round draft pick?
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