Imago
Jan 24, 2021; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with his teammates after beating the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Imago
Jan 24, 2021; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with his teammates after beating the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Tom Brady shocked the entire league when he decided to leave the New England Patriots. It was a big move for a multitude of reasons. Firstly, Brady had been with the team for almost 2 decades and hadn’t ever considered leaving till that time.
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Secondly, Brady was 43 years of age when he took the call to leave. And despite his incredible football pedigree, even he struggled early on to adjust to his new team.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady spoke in an interview about his first season with the Buccaneers. Brady noted that his inaugural campaign came with its challenges. Most notably, Brady’s abilities to call plays and dictate the offense.
Coming into a new system was difficult, especially after 20 years of playing in the same system. Brady was trying to adjust to the playbook in the middle of the NFL regular season.
USA Today via Reuters
Feb 7, 2020; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) moves under center near the goalline against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter of Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
“Midway through the year, I was still trying to figure out how to call the plays. I just read [the plays] off my wristband and tried to visualize what was going to happen.
“It’s like learning a completely new language. You’ve spoken English for 20 years and someone goes, ‘Hey man, let’s speak some Spanish.’ And you are like, ‘Huh? That makes no sense to my brain’.” (H/T- JoeBucsFan)
Tom Brady was able to salvage the season
Brady did struggle with being able to call plays during the initial part of the season. And it showed to the rest of the league as well. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Bruce Arians was publically critical of Brady from time to time, because he wasn’t able to adjust well to his style of play.
However, the two settled their differences as the season went on. And the Buccaneers were better for it as Brady was able to adjust to the team better and run it the way he needed to.
USA Today via Reuters
Feb 7, 2021; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) and head coach Bruce Arians celebrate during the fourth quarter in Super Bowl LV against the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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Despite the initial struggle, the Buccaneers were able to secure a playoff spot during the season. In the Playoffs, Brady went on one of the best runs of his career, defeating some of the strongest franchises.
En route to the Super Bowl, Brady and the Buccaneers defeated Washington Football Team, the New Orleans Saints, and the Green Bay Packers.
And in the Super Bowl, Brady delivered a classic performance to push the Buccaneers past the defending champions Kansas City Chiefs.