Tom Brady

When things don't go your way — or, rather, what you don't think of as your way — there can be a variety of opportunities that may not be obvious in the moment but that through hard work, preparation, and persistence can present themselves over time and make you better.

Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr. (born 3 August 1977) is an American football quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He spent the first 20 seasons of his career with the New England Patriots, playing in nine Super Bowls and winning six of them (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI, and LIII), both of which are the most of any player in NFL history. Brady is widely considered to be the greatest quarterback of all time.

Quotes

• I believe that what we get out of our bodies is a direct result of what we put in. I (mostly) follow a plant-based diet of whole foods that helps my body stay in balance and limits additional inflammation. I try to surround myself with positive people, and I work to minimize distractions whenever possible. My lifestyle has helped me stay physically and mentally fit.
  • "Sunday Paper Exclusive: Tom Brady on the Mind of a Champion", MariaShriver.com (2017)

• I have always believed the sport of football is an 'all-in' proposition — if a 100% competitive commitment isn't there, you won't succeed, and success is what I love so much about our game. There is a physical, mental and emotional challenge EVERY single day that has allowed me to maximize my highest potential. And I have tried my very best these past 22 years. There are no shortcuts to success on the field or in life.
  This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore. I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention.
  I've done a lot of reflecting the past week and have asked myself difficult questions. And I am so proud of what we have achieved. My teammates, coaches, fellow competitors, and fans deserve 100% of me, but right now, it's best I leave the field of play to the next generation of dedicated and committed athletes.
  • Instagram post announcing his retirement from NFL football (1 February 2022)

The TB12 Method (2017)

The TB12 Method : How to Achieve a Lifetime of Sustained Peak Performance

• When things don't go your way—or, rather, what you don't think of as your way—there can be a variety of opportunities that may not be obvious in the moment but that through hard work, preparation, and persistence can present themselves over time and make you better.
  • p. 10

• Why do i continue getting daily pliability? Because I want to play football for as long as possible. I love my sport. I love my teammates. I love what i do... to me, sustained peak performance means doing what i want to do, and what I love to do, for as long as I can.
  • p. 73

• You can make life a lot harder for yourself by focusing on negative things in your path or making excuses for why things didn't go your way. Or, you can refuse to take things personally, let them go, learn from them, and become the best version of yourself. It's a choice. It's actually your choice. If I throw an interception or have a bad day or make a bad business decision, by staying in that place I will just make things worse.
  • pp. 271-272

• Wisdom, someone said, is about knowing the difference between the things you can control and the things you can't. Today, if things go my way, great; and if they don't, that's okay, too, since I always have the chance to overcome them in the future. Whenever my team loses a game, it's an opportunity to learn something. A game is always an experiment.
  • pp. 271-272

Quotes about Brady

• Do you know how many NFL players are switching over to plant-based diets? I see it all the time! Look no further than the very best, Tom Brady.
  • Erin Coscarelli, quoted in Vodka Is Vegan by Matt & Phil Letten (Penguin Random House, 2018), "Praise" section

• To be honest, Tom Brady is an influencer there because of the stuff he talks about, and how healthy he is.
  • Aaron Rodgers, "Aaron Rodgers' new nutrition plan: Less '80/20 Rule,' more Tom Brady", ESPN.com (1 June 2016)

• New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is the most prominent athlete to embrace veganism, crediting his mostly plant-based diet for allowing him to play at an MVP level into his 40s. He made the change starting in 2014, and detailed his approach in his 2017 book, The TB12 Method .
  • Scott Gleeson, Athletes turn to plant-based and vegan diets to gain edge in a growing sports world trend, USA Today, (8 August 2019)

See also

• Positive thinking