NFL legend Tom Brady is unfortunately proving his former boss Bill Belichick wrong after the New England Patriots head coach claimed the quarterback could play until he was 50.
Brady's play at 44 years old during the 2021 season suggested he could continue performing at the highest level for the foreseeable future - and maybe even surpass 50. He led the NFL in passing yards with a career-high of 5,316 while also tossing 43 touchdowns as he accumulated a passer rating of 102.1.
However, the 45-year-old has struggled in 2022. Amid a swathe of injuries to his Tampa Bay Buccaneers offence - particularly along the offensive line - Brady has thrown 1,652 yards and eight touchdowns through six weeks.
His passer rating is also the second-lowest it has been in the last nine seasons. Brady’s decline in performance will come as a shock to former coach Belichick, as the duo masterminded the Patriots dynasty that spanned two decades and six Super Bowl titles.
Last season, Belichick was asked during a radio interview whether he thought it was realistic for Brady to play until he was 50. The 70-year-old traditionally keeps his cards close to his chest and while he suggested it was possible for his former quarterback, he gave a characteristically mundane answer.
“I’m sure Tom would know better than anybody, so if anybody can do it, it's him,” Belichick told The Greg Hill Show on WEEI back in 2021.
Tampa Bay fell to a 3-3 record as the Pittsburgh Steelers - who moved to 2-4 - claimed a shock 20-18 win. Backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky led Pittsburgh to the unlikely win after replacing injured rookie Kenny Pickett.
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Brady - a seven-time Super Bowl champion - has struggled thus far in 2022. The Buccaneers offence was stagnant on Sunday as they scored just 18 points - the fifth time in six games they’ve scored 21 points or less. According to The Athletic, Tampa Bay had scored 21 points or less in a combined five games over the previous two seasons.
Brady was furious with his offensive line as they struggled against a Steelers team that had just three sacks in the last four games coming into Week 6. If a quarterback isn’t protected, he will struggle while taking constant hits - and that rule still applies to Brady.
Nobody has ever come close to doing what Brady is. Only four players have even attempted an NFL pass at aged 44 or older: Vinny Testaverde, Warren Moon, Steve DeBerg, George Blanda. Blanda is often recognised as the oldest quarterback ever when he retired at 48, but he was a full-time kicker, no longer a QB at that stage in his career.
Playing at 50 seems an impossible task even for Brady, who has made a career out of proving his critics wrong. Another five years in the NFL appears to be a bridge too far for the GOAT as Father Time moves the chains.
