Rich Eisen: How Tom Brady Completely Redefined What It Means to Be Great in the NFL 

Part of my childhood retired today..I’ve been watching this guy since I was a kid. I don’t know football without TB definitely going to be an adjustment. One hell of a career👏 goodbye Tom

Watching Manning vs. Brady matchups used to be one of the highlights of the sports year for me. I've watched Tom a long time. It wasn't until Peyton retired that I realized how special watching these guys play really is. Thanks, Tom. You won me over, I'll always be a fan

In an age when almost anything and anyone in sports is described as "great", we have had the pleasure of watching someone who actually was. A genuinely great tribute, Rich.

In the words of the late, great John Madden: "I'll tell you what...what Tom Brady just did, gives me goosebumps"...Thanks, for it all, Brady...and I do mean all of it...I'm a Philadelphia Eagles fan through and through, but I enjoyed what you did with the Quarterback position! Much appreciated...well done career....

I was in the 8th grade when Tom Brady won his 1st Super Bowl beating my Steelers in the AFC Championship. I always hated him because he beat my team. But I cant help but salute greatness. I'm now 34 years old, married, two kids, graduated from college, served in the military and as of just last year Tom Brady was still winning Super Bowls. Incredible. Salute to the best to ever do it. Truly the GOAT.

This actually made me cry. What a beautiful tribute to a man who is obsessed with achieving greatness in every aspect of life. He deserves all the accolades and more.

I'm the same age as Tom. I've cheered for him half my life. I held back tears today. A true legend. I thank him for everything he gave me and all football fans.

I appreciate this show for the respect you've shown Tom Brady for so long

You got me crying again. Football will never be the same.

The first Super Bowl I ever watched was Super Bowl XXXVI. I wasn't a football fan then, just 13 yo kid that thought he'd check out the game because the local team had made it. 22 years and lots of memories later, thanks for the amazing ride Tom. You're the greatest.

I dont think anyone understands that this man had THREE Hall of fame careers: • 2 separate first-ballot ones when he won 3 super bowls • a definite Hall of Fame nod for just for his SB-less Patriot years and his time in Tampa alone What an absolute machine, monster and legend and will NEVER EVER be matched.

It’s unbelievable that The first super bowl I remember watching as a 10 year old and the dude was playing at a higher level when I turned 30

Well said I’m completely devastated my childhood my everything will change hats off to this man for everything he has done for the teams the players and I hate to say this but now his family good luck Tom there will never be another 🙏

Brady: “6 QBs drafted ahead of me? No problem, I’ll win a Super Bowl for each one, and an extra just in case…”

The most Gretzky-like career since Gretzky. From a Giants fan. Respect.

If the 9ers would have taken him when he asked they'd be trying for a back to back Super Bowl and probably prepping for a 3peat

When Brady played the full season(subtract his rookie and 2008 season) he went to the superbowl 50% of the time that's crazy. 10 out of 20

Tom... Thank you for the greatest 22 years of NFL football I've ever seen by a single player! 🏈 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆 🐐

Man I’m so emotional today 😥 Tom Brady you will always be my idol

TB12 ❤️❤️

Grew up watching this guy was lucky to be born in New England and witness his greatness thank you for everything Tom it still feels unreal you decided to hang it up

There will never be another TB12, period.

What a sad day! Thank you for everything Tom! Thank you for bringing us a chip! You're really are the TRUE GOAT of all American sports. Thank you Tommy! Thank you 12.

Absolute legend. When I first started watching football I had a love hate relationship with Brady. I said he was the goat and hated him because I felt like I was supposed to. After watching him play a full super bowl for the first time in super bowl LI and it being THAT game. After that I learned more and more and became obsessed with the competitive nature and will of Tom Brady, how he leads his team, his intensity, how clutch he is, and how committed and locked in he is. It’s incredible. The haters make me laugh cause I used to be one, what he’s done in the nfl is legendary. All the epic legendary moments, regular and post season. So grateful I got to watch this man play football at such a high level for the few years I have and sadly beating my cowboys in this years opener while I’m in the stands, and the inevitability of knowing it was coming too with only a minute and change left. There will never be another.

I was 20 years old when Brady made his first start and I have enjoyed watching him play football. Today definitely is a sad day. It's kinda cool that he retired when he did though. We don't know what a declining Brady looks like.

I’m wistful…what a privilege to be a Patriot fan since the 80s Thank you Tom.

Following his entire career I’ve always said, whenever Tom is done with football I will be too. I guess because I’ll know that no matter what anyone else accomplishes I’ll always ask, what if Tom was still playing though. It was an honor

Thank you so much Rich! That was one hell of a speech! You feel the respect and administration 🤍🇧🇷

I respect athletes who compete 100 percent every game. He is in that category. What an epic career.

As a long-time Bucs fan, when I heard he was coming to Tampa I wondered... what if he kinda just phones it in for a couple of years? What if there's a big decline? No. He went all out, put in 100% for the team, and there was no decline at all.

What a speech Rich! amazing!

Greatest of all time no doubt! & above all the greatest ambassador to the game of football ever! Thanks for the memories don’t know what I’ll do next year smh

Man....it feels like we've lost a family member. Sad, sad moment in time...Last time, it was Jeff Gordon, Nascar hasn't been the same since...

You know this was special bc Rich didn't have his loud outro

Before Brady skyrocketed to 7 rings, having 1 or 2 rings could keep you in the discussion as greatest, or one of the greats. Hell, as a dolphins fan my whole life seeing Marino just get one would have put him in the discussion. Montanas 4 seemed unreachable then too. That all changed. 7 rings and an insane 10 appearances is just ridiculous. It’s amazing and unfortunate for a lot of QBs now. The favres, Rodgers, flaccos, and dozens of others with one ring are dime a dozen now, when for so long just getting one would cement a legacy.

I would say Brady and Gretzky are contemporaries…..in comparison to all others these two guys achieved more in their sport than any two players combined…

Those passing stats are freakin' amazing.

He should CLEARLY end his last season as the mvp. He had the best season BY FAR. It's crazy that this is not a forgone conclusion

GOAT TB12 set the winning bar so hard that I don't see any QB is can achieve it unless they sacrifice more than GOAT then may be, may be may be have a chance.

He had 22 Season in the NFL and is retiring in the year 2022

The stat that boggles me is that he played in 10 SB's over 20 years (forget the year he was injured).

One of his most underrated accomplishments: Greatest QB Sneaks in history. 4th and goal, 1/2 yard line, you can have anyone in history. I'm taking a Tom Brady QB Sneak, a Jim Brown handoff, or nothing.

If you add his game winning drives in the post season, his total game winning drives for his career is 67. #1 overall. 11 higher than the next closest guy.

Great tribute Rich! Thank you for giving TB the accolades he deserves!

Brady made it look so easy but we know it isn’t. His ability to operate in the pocket and his feel for pressure was Yoda level Jedi.

Tom Brady took the National Football League to the mountain top, to the top of a mountain we didn't even know existed.

I grew up watching football right the end of the eras of some legendary QBs like Montana and Marino thinking if my generation would get the privilege of watching the rise of another NFL legend. I am blessed to have watched Brady.

TB12 the goat, amazing!!! We will definitely miss you.

BEST EISEN SEGMENT EVER!

Thanks Rich as a die hard Brady fan I like how you put thi ks out there that a lot of people to understand what Brady has done at 40+is out of this World

Perfect rant, thanks' Rich.

Awesome tribute man

Tom Brady is the NFL’s GOAT, and possibly the most successful athlete in any of the major sports. I just threw up in my mouth a little bit saying that. But it’s true. GO BILLS.

I am so depressed,he was not only competing at the highest level he was still ahead of the pack.I can't help but think he really did not want to retire. Besides Jim Brown Noone else really retired while still at the top of their game.And make no mistake Tom was still at the top 22 yrs in the league. IT IS INCREDIBLE IT WILL NEVER EVER EVER HAPPEN AGAIN. In the NFL Hall of Fame he should have his own WING. To say he was the Greatest of all time is an understatement.

Tom Brady movie will be a huge money maker. Wonder who can represent Tom and his wife . Tampa Bay Buckeners you were blessed. Football games will be a little different for a few years 🏈

There needs to be a trophy called the Brady Award. It could be like the Conn Smythe for Hockey

4 rings after 37 just impressive

I remember in 2001 against the Bills his second or third start Nate Clement absolutely destroyed Brady helmet included and Tom immediately popped up and ran back to the huddle I just said to my friends watching with me tough kid

The greatest of all time. No debate.

Only two athletes have ever made me wonder how I will enjoy a sport when they retired- Jordon and Brady.

Legendary Legend GOAT of all time is TOM BRADY! huge respect to you GOAT from Raven's fan

He’s been playing for as long as I’ve been alive- insane to think I was a baby while he was winning Super Bowls and he continued to do so as I sit and type this as an adult

I was a fan of the Patriots during the Grogan years, they had some success but nothing like Tom brought. The 90's were rough for Patriots fans and I had season tickets for the first time in 93, one win but I sat there every Sunday until I moved in 2000. Needless to say I was happy that 2001 Super Bowl and the rest. Even the losses in the playoffs and Super Bowls because I never stopped appreciating what I was seeing. Tom left the team and I continued to support the team just like when I was a kid. I appreciate what he brought but like he always said and did it was team first. It's sad he's retiring but sweet because it makes you appreciate just how great he was.

The GOAT finished his playoff trilogy with the Rams then walked off into the sunset.

Sad day but it’s been a privilege to watched this man entire career for 22 seasons. Without question he is the NFLs goat I’m gonna miss him.

Rich is an enigma in the sense that he's a Michigan man, his kids entire family is Patriots fans, and he's a Jets fan. What a dark existence lol

Well said!!!

LOve this tribute to my man TOMMY ! THanks TOMMY I miss you already !

I get goosebumps listening to this take as John Madden said in Tom’s first Super Bowl win

The Patriots did not choose Brady because they wanted to, they chose hims because they had to pick someone.

brady = leader...commitment ...longevity

Makes you wonder what his career could have been like if he had been picked earlier. What if the Patriots had taken him in an earlier pick? How much did that diss of Brady contribute to his greatness.

Why doesn’t he get any credit for all the AFC Championship games? I always looked forward to Brady vs Manning

NFL, Please declare this season tribute to TB. Make it special for him and whole NFL community. It will take whole year for us to get used to see NFL without TB.

When the Rams were in St. Louis, I was all in. Finally, a home team for St. Louis. I suffered through all those Tony Banks years. And we turned it around with Warner and Co. to win Super Bowl 34. I was elated. Then, the next year, all we had to do was beat this scrawny kid from Michigan to go back-to-back. And he destroyed our souls. I hated him. His first 3 Super Bowls were the thorn in my side. But... he just kept winning - over and over and over again. No, he's never been my favorite QB. But that's a different metric than "who's the best ever". As much as I wanted to keep hating him, I couldn't. I love this game. I played this game. I coached this game. So I knew how special what he was doing was. And I'll always give credit where it's due. Tom is the greatest "football player" to ever play the game. Nobody has ever, or will ever, match his success. And nobody will ever come close. Rings? Sure. Someone might win 7. Or even 8. Although I doubt it. But NOBODY will ever play or win as many championship games, or Super Bowls as he did. And even if they did, they'll never put up a career's worth of numbers in the postseason as he did. His passing statistics in the Super Bowl alone are the equivalent of an absolutely stellar full season. His accolades are impossible to match. I'm sad to see him go. And that's coming from someone who hated him at one point. Tom is indeed the GOAT. Much luck and peace in all you do Tom. ✌

To equal Brady in rings and regular season/playoff wins Aaron Rodgers would have to: go undefeated in regular season and win the SB each year. For 6 years in a row. That's how far away the next guy is.

the goat

Being a Bucs fan, I was glad when he won his first superbowl because the Rams had beat the Bucs in 99..20 years later, even at the tail end of his career, he became a BUC! 4ever in awe TYTB12!

GOAT. Period. Gonna miss him!❤❤❤

Man, the way Rich Is talking, Tom will be back and be like let me prove that i can be best at 45+ too.

Even more amazing - game winning drives regular and playoff wins takes him to 67 game winning drives all time. No one even comes close. His career game winning drives in playoffs is 14!! Next one in line John Elway......at 6. Unreal. GOAT of all time.

looking at the numbers, wow.

What a Legend, What a Man, The GOAT! Gonna miss him so much! Thank you, Tom! ❤️

Can you please invite Rob Parker to your show again Rich? Have him watch this video to prep. 😎

Brady is the defining athlete of this generation. Like babe ruth, ali or Jordan

When he thought he was GOAT was when he said to Robert Kraft "I'm the best decision you've ever made". Man had cajones and he knew it. It's been amazing to have literally grown up with TB12 as my QB1. He brought NE into relevance for the rest of my life. A well earned ride into the sunset. Ring the bell 12 times for the GOAT

The GOAT... ❤️

Those stats he showed at 7:24 are ridiculous. I want numbers like that when I get to my 40's. But then I'm not Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr.

Whatever is yours, is yours. it was his destiny for his complete great career, despite all the closed doors.

He's still being overlooked in some ways over the newer more flashier QBs today

TB12 back to back 🏆 🏆 while also ending Seattle and KC'S hopes of emulating. The list of accolades is endless. I'm sad he's called time. Its a sad day for the sport . Incredible career and inspiration 👏 🐐 - seahawks fan

Thank You Tom Brady ! Thanks for all those memories of football .

22 seasons and the longest superbowl drought was 3 years wild

And we got to see it all

Excellent

He will be missed best of luck tom and your family moving forward.

Used to piss me off when Loyd used to bench Brady for Henson. He gave in to the media pressure.

Drew Henson got all the attention at Michigan

I am Guyana south America. Bec of Brady I follow foot ball in 2001. I win more mony from him betting than anything in my live. 2007 i was broke but Brady make me a thousandire bec I win 20 k. And lost 3 thousand in the superbowl

the TB era of football. think of all the GREAT qb's which are a complete afterthought after his late career monster onslaught. in 2012, Montana was the GOAT and you had people debating whether Brady, Manning, Elway, even Favre were in the conversation for 2nd place. fast forward 10 years. Manning? which one Eli or Payton? maybe Cooper? Brett who? A-Rod? you mean the baseball player? the man simply shoved a full generation of the greatest QBs in history (Rodgers, Ben, Brees, Manning, Favre) into a deep dark deep freeze drawer, locked it and threw away the key. it's the Tom Brady Era of football.