Tom Brady

Brady attended Junípero Serra High School in San Mateo, where he graduated in 1995. He played football, basketball, and baseball in high school. He played against Bellarmine College Preparatory rival Pat Burrell in football and baseball. Brady began his career as the backup quarterback on the Padres junior varsity team. At first, Brady was not good enough to start on the 0–8 junior varsity team, which had not scored a touchdown all year. Brady ascended to the starting position when the main quarterback was injured. He became the varsity starter in his junior year and held it until he graduated. By Brady's senior year, he was striving to be noticed by college coaches. He created highlight tapes and sent them to schools he considered attending. This led to interest from many football programs.

Brady was also known as a great baseball player in high school. He was a left-handed-batting catcher with power. His skills impressed MLB scouts, and he was drafted in the 18th round of the 1995 MLB draft by the Montreal Expos, after the team brought Brady to Candlestick Park to work out with players, an unusual decision. The Expos projected Brady as a potential All-Star, with then-GM Kevin Malone claiming Brady had the potential to be "one of the greatest catchers ever". The team offered him money typical of that offered to a late second-round or early third-round pick, but Brady was recruited by football assistant Bill Harris, to play for the University of Michigan in 1995. Brady became the last active athlete drafted by the Expos. He finished his high school career by completing 236 of 447 passes (53%) for 3,702 yards and 31 touchdowns. Brady won All-State and All-Far West honors and the team's Most Valuable Player Award.

On September 28, 1996, Brady appeared in his first collegiate game after Michigan was up 35–3 against UCLA late in the fourth quarter. His first-ever pass attempt was intercepted by Phillip Ward and returned for a 42-yard touchdown.

One of the NFL's most decorated and accomplished players, Brady is widely cited as the greatest quarterback of all time. He is considered one of NFL's greatest players of all time and one of the greatest athletes in sports history.

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