Defining GOAT moments from Brady's Patriots tenure

It's the end of an era: Tom Brady announced Tuesday his football journey is taking him away from New England.

Here, we look back at the moments that defined TB12's Patriots tenure:

Patriots launch a dynasty

When the Patriots took the field against the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, Brady was still your average quarterback. Just a few days after getting the nod to start over Drew Bledsoe, the second-year passer led the 14-point underdog Patriots into battle against the Greatest Show on Turf.

With the game tied and momentum firmly with the Rams, Brady led the Patriots' offense out on the field with the ball at the New England 17-yard line, setting the scene for a heroic final drive that would launch the greatest dynasty the sport has ever known. Brady methodically marched the Patriots into St. Louis territory, throwing for 53 yards on the final drive to set up Adam Vinatieri's game-winning field goal in the dying seconds, securing Super Bowl MVP honors. It was the first of six rings for Brady with the Patriots, and his first true defining moment with the organization.

18 years ago today (and despite John Madden's advice), Tom Brady immortalized himself with a game-winning drive in Super Bowl XXXVI.pic.twitter.com/ntEPKrHWat

- Tucker Boynton (@Tucker_TnL) February 4, 2020

Record-setting perfection in 2007Rob Tringali/Sportschrome / SportsChrome / Getty

The fourth quarter of the Patriots' Week 17 game against the New York Giants in 2007 might go down as the most famous in Brady's regular-season history. Not only were the Patriots chasing the first 16-0 campaign the NFL has ever seen, but Brady had his sights set on the single-season passing touchdown record. His 49th passing touchdown earlier in the game had equaled the record set by Peyton Manning in 2004.

Trailing the Giants 28-23 in the fourth quarter, it all came together for Brady and New England. He connected on a 65-yard bomb to Randy Moss to break Manning's record and give the Patriots a lead they never relinquished, completing a truly perfect regular season for Brady and company.

TB12 erases 28-3 deficit

In a career full of defining moments and magical comebacks, Brady's Super Bowl LI masterpiece will forever be considered his finest hour with the Patriots. Leading 28-3 late in the third quarter, the Atlanta Falcons were on the brink of the franchise's first Super Bowl victory. Brady had other plans.

The GOAT responded in exhilarating fashion with 25 unanswered points over the final 17:06 to send the game to overtime. The Patriots won the toss and ensured Atlanta never got the ball back. Brady hit four different receivers as they marched down the field and into the end zone to complete the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. It was the fifth ring and fourth Super Bowl MVP award for Brady after a two-touchdown, 466-yard passing performance.

Super Bowl LI.

28-3.

Up stepped @TomBrady. The rest is history.

Arguably his greatest outing with the @patriots. pic.twitter.com/ejZJlmBktO

- NFL UK (@NFLUK) March 17, 2020

Unanimously, and timelessly, the GOAT

While Brady's single-season passing touchdown record set in 2007 would ultimately be broken, one record that will likely never be touched is his 2010 MVP award. It was the second of his career, but this one was especially significant as he received all 50 votes, becoming the first player in NFL history to be unanimously voted MVP.

Brady's third MVP award was also a record-setter. He got 40 of a possible 50 votes to win it in 2017 - the third of his career - becoming the oldest MVP in NFL history at the age of 40, proving legends are, indeed, forever.

Brady leads comeback vs. SeahawksRob Carr / Getty Images Sport / Getty

After winning three Super Bowls in his first five NFL seasons, the jury was out on whether Brady would ever win another. A 10-year drought, marred by the Spygate scandal and a pair of Super Bowl losses to Eli Manning, had shifted the narrative. Was Brady truly the GOAT?

Trailing the Seattle Seahawks by 10 points in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLIX, that question was quickly answered. Brady orchestrated a pair of methodical touchdown drives to erase the deficit and set the scene for Malcolm Butler's game-sealing interception on the goal line. That final play is what this game will always be remembered for, but it was Brady's fourth-quarter heroics that catapulted the Patriots back to the pinnacle of the National Football League, breathing life back into a dynasty that was starting to be called into question.

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