The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1334389
FEBRUARY 2021 THE WOLVERINE 61 BY AUSTIN FOX T om Brady played in nine Super Bowls during his time with the New England Patriots (2000-19), coming away victorious in six of them. He will play in his first as a member of the Tampa Bay Bucca- neers Feb. 7, when he leads his new squad against the defending cham- pion Kansas City Chiefs. As an added bonus, the Buccaneers will get to play the big game in their home stadium — a first in Super Bowl history. To make it happen, though, Brady and his crew had to pick up three postseason road victories. Tampa Bay defeated Washington 31-23 on wild- card weekend, then knocked off the New Orleans Saints 30-20 in the divi- sion round before culminating their run with a 31-26 victory at Green Bay in the NFC title game Jan. 17 on the NFL's championship weekend (which featured 11 former Wolver- ines on active rosters, more than any other collegiate program). Only four other teams in league history have made the Super Bowl after winning three straight road games. The records Brady set — and con- tinues to set — this year at age 43 were remarkable. He became the first player in NFL history over 40 years old to throw at least 40 pass- ing touchdowns in a single season. The 40 scoring tosses he compiled were also the second most in his own career, trailing only the 50 he racked up in 2007. Brady's 4,633 yards in 2020 were also the most any signal-caller 40 years or older had ever accumulated. Brady already holds most every meaningful playoff and Super Bowl passing record, and will get to put more distance between himself and others on Super Sunday. The veteran's 10th Super Bowl start will now give him double the number of the next- closest quarterback (John Elway). "This [NFC Championship] tro- phy is because of the belief Tom gave everybody in this organization this could be done," Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians said following his team's win over the Packers. "It only took one man." FINAL REGULAR-SEASON STATISTICS FOR FORMER WOLVERINES ON NFL ROSTERS Through Jan. 24 • Ben Braden (Played at U-M from 2012-16), OL, Green Bay Packers: Ap- peared in four games off the bench, while also spending much of the year on the 13-3 Packers' practice squad … Took part in both of Green Bay's post- season matchups on special teams. • Tom Brady (1996-99), QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Finished the year with a 65.7 completion percentage, 4,633 passing yards, 40 passing touchdowns, 12 interceptions and three rushing scores in 16 starts with 11-5 Tampa Bay … Was tied for second in the NFL for scoring tosses and checked in third for passing yardage … Completed 55 percent of his passes for 860 yards with seven touch- downs and three interceptions in the Buccaneers' three playoff victories over Washington, New Orleans and Green Bay en route to a berth in Super Bowl LV. • Ben Bredeson (2016-19), OG, Balti- more Ravens: Competed in 10 contests off the bench for the 11-5 Ravens, seeing time on both offense and special teams … Did not partake in either of Baltimore's two playoff games after being put on the injured reserve Jan. 9 with a knee ailment. • Devin Bush (2016-18), LB, Pitts- burgh Steelers: Tore his ACL in a 38-7 victory over Cleveland Oct. 18 and missed the rest of 12-4 Pittsburgh's sea- son … Prior to the injury, he started five games and accumulated 26 tackles, one sack and three passes defended … His tackle total ranked second on the team at the time of his injury. • Jake Butt (2013-16), TE, Denver Broncos: Placed on the injured reserve list with a hamstring injury Nov. 3 and missed the rest of 5-11 Denver's cam- paign … Started one of the five con- tests he played in and notched two re- ceptions for five yards. • Taco Charlton (2013-16), DE, Kan- sas City Chiefs: Landed on the injured MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Tom Brady Lands In His 10th Super Bowl Brady will be trying to win his seventh Super Bowl — only one other player in league history (linebacker Charles Haley) has been on five championship teams. PHOTO COURTESY TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS