Highlighted Year: Tom Brady, 2002

Quarterback, New England Patriots

Age: 25

3^rd season in pro football & with Patriots

College: Michigan

Height: 6’4”   Weight: 220

Prelude:

A lightly-regarded sixth-round draft choice by New England in 2000, Brady got his chance when starting QB Drew Bledsoe was injured in the second game of the ’01 season. With the young quarterback showing surprising poise and leadership ability, the team surged in the second half and ended up with a stunning win over the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl. Brady was selected to the Pro Bowl.

2002 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 601 [3]

Most attempts, game – 55 at Chicago 11/10

Completions – 373 [4]

Most completions, game – 39 vs. Kansas City 9/22

Yards – 3764 [6]

Most yards, game – 410 vs. Kansas City 9/22

Completion percentage – 62.1 [13]

Yards per attempt – 6.3

TD passes – 28 [1]

Most TD passes, game – 4 vs. Kansas City 9/22

Interceptions – 14 [15, tied with Kerry Collins & Rodney Peete]

Most interceptions, game – 3 vs. Green Bay 10/13

Passer rating – 85.7 [10]

400-yard passing games – 1

300-yard passing games – 3

200-yard passing games – 10

Rushing

Attempts – 42

Most attempts, game – 6 (for 4 yds.) vs. Minnesota 11/24

Yards – 110

Most yards, game – 26 yards (on 5 carries) vs. Green Bay 10/13

Yards per attempt – 2.6

TDs – 1

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Patriots went 9-7 to finish second in the AFC East.

Aftermath:

The Patriots followed up with NFL Championships in 2003 and ’04. Brady was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2004 and ’05, the latter year in which he led the league with 4110 passing yards. In 2007, Brady passed for a NFL-record 50 TDs while also leading the league in passing yards (4806), completion percentage (68.9), yards per attempt (8.3), and passer rating (117.2). He was a consensus first-team All-Pro for the first time as well as league MVP and the Patriots went undefeated in the regular season – however, they were upset in the Super Bowl by the Giants. Brady’s 2008 season ended prematurely due to a knee injury in the opening game. He came back to throw for 4398 yards and 28 TDs in 2009 and had another MVP season in 2010, in which he led the NFL in passing (111.0 rating) and TD passes (36). Brady passed for a career-high 5235 yards in 2011 and the Patriots won another AFC Championship, although they came up short in the Super Bowl. His outstanding play, and durability, continued through the next three years as he passed for over 4000 yards in each. The Patriots capped the 2014 season, in which both Brady and the club got off to a slow start, with a victory in the Super Bowl over Seattle. Brady was selected to the Pro Bowl in every season from 2009 through ’14, giving him a total of ten in all. Thus far, he has passed for 53,258 yards and 392 touchdowns, both figures ranking fifth all-time, against only 143 interceptions, with a completion percentage of 63.5, an average of 7.4 yards per attempt, and a passer rating of 95.9. In the postseason, he has thrown for 7345 yards and 53 TDs, with 26 interceptions, and the Patriots have compiled a 21-8 record in his starts that include four Super Bowl wins against two defeats.  

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970