The Shohei Ohtani effect has no boundaries! In Game 4 against the Brewers, he made history as the first player in MLB to hit three home runs and record 10Ks in a single game. This remarkable performance left many, including NFL legend Tom Brady, in awe. The seven-time Super Bowl champion couldn’t help but admire and draw comparisons between Ohtani’s masterpiece and legendary performances from his own era, including one unforgettable night by his fiercest rival.

Brady’s reaction to Shohei Ohtani’s historic Game 4 performance in the NLCS said it all. Recently, during his most recent “Storytime” broadcast, Ohtani’s performance was described as “one of the greatest sporting achievements ever.” Brady was amazed at how well Ohtani pitched and hit, especially after coming back from an elbow injury. The Patriots HOF remarked, “I think what he did with 10 strikeouts, three home runs — one of those balls going out of the stadium — and then leading his team the way he has coming back from that elbow injury and performing the way he did is just absolutely incredible.”

The performance sparked Brady to reflect on what an NFL equivalent might look like. He noted that few modern athletes excel on both sides of the game, but some historic performances have captured that essence. Brady referenced several legendary games, including his own and those of other greats. Among performances that matched Ohtani’s dominance, one rival stood out— Peyton Manning.

Brady remembered staying up late in 2013 to see Peyton Manning destroy the Ravens in Week 1. That night, Manning threw seven touchdown passes, which tied an NFL record. He then finished the season with 55, shattering Brady’s personal record of 50. Brady said, “I knew Peyton was always a huge rival for our team, so I was rooting against him.” “But that performance was unreal. He just couldn’t miss.”

And of course, he also had his fair share of near-perfect games. He talked about his 2009 snow game against the Titans, which he won 59–0 and set an NFL record by throwing five touchdown passes in one quarter. He said, “It was incredible.” “Everything just clicked.”

As the World Series between the Dodgers and Blue Jays will start in less than 24 hours, Shohei Ohtani’s bat and arm will once again take centre stage. The defending champions enter as the favorites. Now, with his arm healthy and his bat as dangerous as ever, the baseball world watches to see what other impossible feats he’ll accomplish. If history is any guide, two-way stars will find ways to redefine what’s possible, just as Brady and Manning once did on football fields across America.

Brady’s praise echoed across the sports world, with another two-sport legend adding his perspective.

Another sporting legend weighs in: Deion Sanders on Ohtani’s two-way domination

Another famous athlete from a different sport has spoken up, proving how rare and newsworthy Ohtani’s recent achievement actually is.

Deion Sanders, who is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and played in Major League Baseball for nine years, knows a thing or two about being flexible. He was a great cornerback (and sometimes a wide receiver) in the NFL, and his background in two sports offers him a unique take on what Ohtani is doing.

Sanders was “in awe” of Shohei Ohtani’s Game 4 performance, in which he pitched six scoreless innings and hit three home runs. Sanders remarked, “That is unbelievable.” “He’s doing something unfathomable.” He went on to say that he believed Ohtani would make it possible for more two-way players to join the league, rather than being “put in a pocket” and playing only one role.

It’s apparent that Ohtani’s achievement has had an impact beyond baseball when you look at what both Brady and Sanders said. Brady compares it to great NFL performances, and Sanders discusses his experiences in many sports. The message is clear: this is historic. As the Los Angeles Dodgers get ready for the WS, Shohei Ohtani isn’t only carrying a bat and a ball; he’s also bearing the weight of what it means to be a great athlete.