After No. 1 Michigan’s thrilling come-from-behind win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl, Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh made the bold assertion that J.J. McCarthy is the greatest quarterback in Michigan history.
“I’ve said it before, but right here, this is the greatest quarterback in University of Michigan football, college football, history,” said Harbaugh. “Got a long way to go to get to get where Tom Brady eventually got to, which is the GOAT. I mean, [Brady] has lapped the field when it comes to that. But in a college career, there’s been nobody at Michigan better than J.J. I know we talk about an amalgamation of quarterbacks. He is that guy.”
Tom Brady is the greatest QB to ever play for Michigan. 🐐
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) January 2, 2024
But Jim Harbaugh reiterates that J.J. McCarthy owns the best college career in @UMichFootball history. pic.twitter.com/LSzc5uxz5t
On Monday, Brady made his response via a comment on an ESPN SportsCenter Instagram post, strongly agreeing with Harbaugh’s postgame claim.
“Go Blue!!! No Doubt!!!” posted Brady.
Instagram / @sportscenter
While many Big Blue fans believe Brady is the GOAT—due to his immense success in the NFL—the seven-time Super Bowl champion compiled a 20–5 record in his two seasons as Michigan’s starting quarterback.
Meanwhile, McCarthy owns an incredible .963 winning percentage as Michigan’s starting signal-caller on the strength of a 26–1 record as a starter over three seasons.
With a win over No. 2 Washington, Michigan’s offensive leader will have a chance to add an accolade that Brady never attained at Ann Arbor—starting quarterback of a national championship squad. Brady, who played for the Wolverines from 1995 until 1999, was the backup to Brian Griese during the school’s co-national championship season (shared with Nebraska) in ’97.
