#ThisDayThatYear: Brady eclipses Brees in all-time passing yardage vs Patriots
On October 3 in 2021, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, surpassed Drew Brees' 80,358 yards to become the National Football League's (NFL) all-time leader in passing yards. He achieved this milestone during a thrilling game in his return to Gillette Stadium against the New England Patriots since his departure in 2020. We detail the record and break-down his stellar career stats.
Buccaneers edge past Patriots as Brady breaks another NFL record
In a rain-soaked 19-17 victory, the Buccaneers saw Brady break Brees' record with a 28-yard completion to Mike Evans. The Patriots were scoreless in the first and third quarters, while Tampa Bay scored in every quarter. Brady finished with 22 passes for 269 yards. Noatbley Brees, who set the record in 2018 with the Saints, was present as a CBS analyst during the game.
Brady and Tampa Bay's 2023 season highlights
Brady finished the season on a high setting an NFL record in attempted (719) and completed passes (485). The QB managed 485 passes for 5,316 yards and 43 touchdowns in 17 games. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers finished the season with a 13-4 record including 63 TDs and 511 points but fell to the Los Angeles Rams 30-27 in the NFC Divisonal Round.
Brady's stellar career stats
In 23 seasons Brady played for two teams, the Patriots and the 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 racked up 13,400 passing yards, and 88 passing touchdowns, with a postseason career passer rating of 89.8.
QB's innumerable career achievements
Brady's legendary career features 7 Super Bowl Championships, 3 NFL MVP awards, 15 Pro Bowl selections, and numerous records, 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). His number 12 is retired by the Patriots, where he also holds multiple team honors.
Brady's unmatched 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. In the playoffs, he has 35 wins, 13,400 passing yards, and 88 passing touchdowns.
