#ThisDayThatYear: Tom Brady becomes third QB to throw 500 touchdowns
What's the story
On October 4, 2018, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady became the third NFL player in history to reach 500 career touchdown passes. He achieved this milestone pass in a game against the Indianapolis Colts, where Brady connected with wide receiver Josh Gordon for a 39-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. We decode the record and detail Brady's crunch career stats.
2018 season
Brady's 2018 season and Patriots' success
In the 2018 regular season, Brady passed for 4,355 yards and 29 touchdowns, leading the Patriots to an 11-5 record, clinching first in the AFC East and second in the AFC. In the postseason, he recorded 953 yards and two touchdowns. The Patriots secured their sixth championship defeating the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in Super Bowl LIII, marking their 11th Super Bowl appearance.
Game recap
Patriots put up a win after mediocre start vs Indianapolis
New England defeated the Colts 38-24 at Gillette Stadium, with QB Brady reaching another milestone. After a slow start, the Patriots scored 17 points in the second quarter and 14 in the fourth to secure the win. Brady completed 34 passes for 341 yards, three touchdowns, and one rushing TD, while Andrew Luck excelled for the Colts with 365 yards and three TDs.
Career achievements
QB's career achievements
Brady's legendary career features 7 Super Bowl Championships, 3 NFL MVP awards, and 15 Pro Bowl selections, including 5-time NFL passing touchdowns leader and 4-time passing yards leader. He is part of the NFL's All-Decade Teams and has won the AP Male Athlete of the Year (2007). Additionally, his number 12 is retired by the Patriots, where he also holds multiple team honors.
Career stats
Brady's majestic career stats
In 23 seasons Brady played for two teams, the Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 335 career appearances, Brady completed 7,753 passes for 89,214 yards including 649 TDs. He boasts a passer rating of 97.2. His postseason achievements also include 35 playoff wins from 48 games. He has amassed 13,400 passing yards, and 88 passing touchdowns, with a postseason career passer rating of 89.8.
Records
Brady's unrivaled league records
Brady holds multiple NFL records, including most career passing yards (89,214), touchdowns (649), and wins as a quarterback (251). He has 7,753 career completions from 12,050 attempts, a single-season record of 490 completions (2022), and the longest touchdown pass at 99 yards. Additionally, in the playoffs, he has 35 wins, 13,400 passing yards, and 88 passing touchdowns.