He was a two sport letterman, earning two letters in both football and baseball.  He completed 236 of 447 passes (52,8%) for 3,702 yards and 31 touchdowns during his high school career. 

Brady was drafted in the 18th round of the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft as a catcher by the Montreal Expos, but went on to college at the University of Michigan where he played football and recorded a 20-5 record as a two-year starter and majored in organizational studies. 

In his first season at Michigan he was a redshirt freshman, and was also a redshirt as a sophmore where he served as Brian Griese's back-up during the Wolverines National Championship season. 

But in his junior season he earned All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention, as well as Academic All-Big Ten Pick.  In his first year as the full-time starter he completed 214 of 350 passes (61.1%) for 2,636 yards and 15 touchdowns.  Only Jim Harbaugh threw for more yards in a season for the Wolverines.  Brady also set a school record for most attempts (350) and completions (214) in a season. 

In 1999 he earned All-Big Ten Conference second-team selection honors and completed 214-of-341 passes (62.8%) for 2,586 yards, 20 touchdowns, an only six interceptions.  Only Elvis Grbac (21 in '90, 25 in '91) had more touchdowns in a season for the Wolverines.  His 2,586 yards rank third on the school's season-record list.  Brady closed out his college career completing 34-of-46 throws for 369-yards, with touchdowns of 27,57, and 20 yards including a game-winning 25-yard scoring strike in overtime as the Wolverines rallied for a 35-24 decision over Alabama in the Orange bowl. 

Following his senior season Brady was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 6th round (199th overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft.  He took over the starting quarterback role after replacing franchise QB Drew Bledsoe who sustained a serious injury that resulted in internal bleeding in week 2 of the 2001 season.

In his first 162-attempts Brady didn't throw an interception, and that streak is the longest to start a career in NFL history.  It also ranks him third for most attempts without an interception in Patriots franchise history.

He also lead them back from their 0-2 start in 2001 to an 11-5 finish, which resulted in a playoff berth and a first round bye.  In his first postseason start Brady led New England to an exciting 16-13 overtime victory over the Oakland Raiders in the Divisional Playoff round.  The following week however Brady suffered an ankle injury in the first half of their match-up against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and left the game in favor of former Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe.  Bledsoe came in and helped lift the team to a 24-17 victory over the Steelers.

Brady returned the following week against the St. Louis Rams in Superbowl XXXVI and was named Superbowl MVP following New England's last second 20-17 victory.