Maybe the most memorable pass of Tom Brady’s career is one the 43-year-old quarterback claims he doesn’t remember.
During the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ celebration of the Super Bowl win, Brady launched the Lombardi Trophy from his boat in the direction of a nearby vessel, where backup tight end Cameron Brate successfully spared Brady the shame of sinking the NFL’s coveted championship hardware.
In an appearance on the “Late Late Show” with James Corden on Tuesday night, Brady said his 8-year-old daughter was the voice of reason in the moment. She chided Brady in real-time for throwing the trophy, but Brady said he doesn’t remember much else. The presence of adult beverages was not hidden by the celebrating champions.
“First of all, I was not thinking at that moment. It was not a thought,” Brady said. “It was, ‘This seems really fun to do.’ Not to mention, when you get your hands on one of those trophies, there’s a lot of really sharp edges on the bottom. I found out later, had that been an incomplete pass, that would have went down like 80 feet. I’m so happy that (tight end) Cam (Brate) caught it.”
Corden showed a video of Brady being spotted by backup quarterback Ryan Griffin returning to land. The talk show host asked Brady if he had sea legs or tequila imbalance at the time.
“A little of both,” Brady laughed. “It was definitely a moment of celebration. I’m happy I’m on land at that point. Absolutely.”
Brady said he rushed away quickly when his wife, Gisele, asked him during the postgame embrace what he had left to prove.
He’s signed for the 2021 season and said during the buildup to the Super Bowl last month that he “definitely” is considering playing until he’s 45. Brady told Corden ending a season, let alone a career, is akin to stopping a treadmill moving full speed.
“I always describe football season is like a treadmill, and it’s going fast you know,” Brady said. “And every week you know you work basically seven days a week for six straight months — and then all of a sudden you’re on this treadmill that’s going fast and then, boom, you hit the stop button.”
–Field Level Media
