ORLANDO––To hear Tom Brady tell it, there’s a lesson to be had for credit unions and CU leaders when they are facing “28-3” moments in their lives.
The reference was to the score in Super Bowl LI, when Brady’s New England Patriots fell behind the Atlanta Falcons and all the momentum was against them. As he would detail, he had a bit of momentum in his life, as well, and that made all the difference.
Brady, considered by most to be the NFL GOAT (Greatest of All Time) with a record seven Super Bowl titles and three MVP awards during his 23-season career, shared his story during an hour of remarks before Velera’s VeleraLIVE meeting, drawing a sold-out crowd. That included sharing some stories that are sports lore at this point, including his high school career (he began as a backup quarterback on the freshman team and never played a down even though the team went 0-6), and his college career at the University of Michigan, where he began as a seventh-string QB who wasn’t named starter until his senior season.
And, of course, he was famously taken with the 199th pick in the NFL draft, where a half-dozen quarterbacks went ahead of him before being selected by the Patriots.
Because Brady spoke at such length, the CU Daily has opted to highlight his insights on the 2017 Super Bowl, when the Patriots fell behind by that more-than-three-touchdown margin in the third quarter, before coming back to defeat the Falcons 34-28 in the first Super Bowl overtime game. Brady led five consecutive scoring drives to tie the game, eventually winning on a 2-yard James White touchdown run.
Brady told his credit union audience his experience during the Super Bowl LI was shaped as much by personal adversity as by what became the largest comeback in Super Bowl history, reflecting on family challenges, career setbacks and the mindset that fueled the rally.
‘A Tough Season’
“It was a tough season,” Brady said, recalling that his mother was undergoing cancer treatments during the year. “We found out before the season that she had cancer, and I kept telling her every step of the way, ‘Don’t worry, Mom, I’m going to get you to the Super Bowl. You’re coming.’ She had to go through her treatments every week, and a lot of things were at play. You get a little emotional thinking about really important moments like that in your life.”
Brady, who prohibited audience members from taking photos while he was speaking, described the season as a unifying time for his family, noting his four-game suspension, his mother’s illness and the support from his father and sisters. He said the team “rallied” late in the season to reach the Super Bowl, where the New England Patriots faced the Atlanta Falcons, led by MVP Matt Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones.
He emphasized that the early stages of the game are often overlooked, including a pivotal interception return by the Falcons for a touchdown. “I remember as I dove to try to tackle the defensive back who intercepted it, I watched him from my stomach as he ran by me,” Brady said. “I thought, ‘If we lose this game, that play is going to haunt you for the rest of your life.’”
Trailing 21–3 at halftime and later 28–3, Brady said the situation mirrored earlier moments in his career, including all the times he had to work his way up the depth chart. “There were a lot of ‘28–3’ moments,” he said, adding that he had also endured Super Bowl losses and injuries over the years.
‘Play Our Asses Off’
At halftime, Brady recalled coach Bill Belichick telling players that 21 points would not be enough to win, urging them to “play our asses off in the second half.”
After falling behind 28–3, Brady said his focus shifted to avoiding quitting. “You better not embarrass yourself right now,” he said. “You dig your ass out, and you fight as hard as you can for the rest of this game. I don’t care what happens—you’re going to fight your asses off.”
The Patriots began to rally, scoring to make it 28–9, then adding a field goal. A key turnover followed when Dont’a Hightower strip-sacked Ryan, with Alan Branch recovering the ball. Brady then connected with Danny Amendola for a touchdown and a two-point conversion to cut the deficit to eight.
With the Falcons later forced to punt, Brady said he sensed the momentum had fully shifted. “At that point, I knew it. Everybody in the stadium knew it—what was about to happen,” he said.
‘Most Meaningful Victory’
Reflecting on the game, Brady, who is now an analyst with Fox Sports, said he initially feared it could become the worst of his career, but instead it became his most meaningful victory. “Oftentimes in life, the worst things that could happen end up being the best things that could happen,” he said, adding that while his children are the most important part of his life, the comeback was “the best win in a sporting event I’ve ever had.”
He said the outcome reinforced a broader lesson about perseverance and personal responsibility.
“No matter what situation you’re in, you control your attitude. You control how you react,” Brady said. “Do you complain about everything that didn’t go your way? Do you blame other people for your circumstances? Or do you say, ‘I’m going to dig deep within myself to see what I’m really made of?’”
Brady noted that the team faced overwhelming odds at 28–3.
Never Give Up
“That day, there was a 99%—maybe 99.9%—chance that we were going to lose that game,” he said. “But I promise you, it would have been 100% if we had given up. Because we didn’t give up, we get to, as a team and as a group of teammates, celebrate that game for the rest of our lives.”
