Brady’s Cultural Impact Remain Massive For NFL
The influence of Tom Brady has been monumental for the NFL and its reach across the United States and the rest of the world. Even at the age of 44, the quarterback continues to defy ‘father time’ with his excellence on the field.
He won his seventh Super Bowl and fifth Super Bowl MVP award in the 2020 campaign in his first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady and the Bucs outdueled Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, securing a 31-9 victory at Raymond James Stadium, becoming the first team to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy on home soil.
The Buccaneers are backed in the NFL betting odds at 6/1 to win the Super Bowl for the second season in a row, although it is worth considering other options in the NFL betting tips from Paddy Power given that no team has won back-to-back Lombardi trophies since the 2004 New England Patriots.
It highlights Brady’s longevity that he was the quarterback of the Patriots team that last won successive titles and his continued importance to the NFL.
He is the icon of the sport across the world. You do not need to be an NFL fan to know who Tom Brady is, much like Michael Jordan and basketball. If you mention the NFL, Brady is the first player that comes to mind, and even if you have not seen him play, you will be familiar with his name even because of his equally famous spouse Gisele Bundchen.
Brady shows no signs of slowing down and has even talked about playing until he’s 50, after previously suggesting that he would be considering retirement at 45. If he were to stick to his original prediction, Brady would end his career next season, which would be a massive disappointment for the Bucs along with the rest of the NFL, who have a love-hate relationship with the GOAT.
Brady’s return to New England for the first time since his departure in 2020 was greeted by a huge audience on NBC, the second-highest prime time game on the network in their history and biggest overall since 2012. NBC invested heavily in ‘The Return’ with its Today Show and other leading programs making appearances at Foxborough Stadium before the contest.
The draw of Brady never ceases to amaze and he will certainly be a hard act to follow, not only in terms of his high-quality performances but also his cultural impact.
There are exciting players on the horizon, none more so than Patrick Mahomes. However, he does not have the same gravitas in terms of his personality yet. Josh Allen, Justin Herbert are among the rising stars entering the limelight, but even success on the field does not ensure you can become a global icon off it.
Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson have each won titles and have hit the headlines for their relationships off the field, but neither has superseded Brady as the face of the NFL. Brady’s continued success and his social media presence have allowed his legacy to continue to the next generation of fans. When he does eventually retire, the NFL will have a tough job in finding a persona to ensure they are ahead of their rivals.
