Former Michigan QB Tom Brady once shared biggest learning experience from his first mentor at 14: "There was a junior college football coach"

Retired New England Patriots legend Tom Brady had a storied career in the NFL as the winningest quarterback of all time.

He also had an up-and-down journey from not being highly regarded in college football with the Michigan Wolverines and getting picked No. 199 overall by the Patriots in the 2000 NFL Draft.

Brady played basketball, football, and baseball for Junipero Serra High School in California, and a camp he attended at College of San Mateo changed the trajectory of his career when he met coach Tom Martinez, who taught him the secrets of being a quarterback.

During an interview on "Valuetainment", Brady revealed the invaluable learning process he underwent under Martinez as a 14-year old (3:45).

"As I learned to love the sport of football, I was watching on the periphery of pro athletes but there was a junior college football coach, that I wanted to be a better passer cause I had a good arm, and he was a three-sport coach at a junior college. His name was Tom Martinez, one of my great mentors and he coached women's softball which is how really I knew him, women's basketball, and men's football," Tom Brady said.

"I would go up there to his camp to learn to throw the ball better when I was fourteen years old and I wanted to throw a ball better so who better than to find this guy who was probably ahead of his time as a coach and he taught me how to throw the ball with some good fundamentals."

Tom Brady and Tom Martinez shared strong bond

Tom Brady did not stop interacting with his mentor Tom Martinez even after joining the Michigan Wolverines and the NFL afterward. Even when he was breaking all sorts of records and building a dynasty with New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, the legendary quarterback stayed in touch with Martinez.

Tom Martinez died of a heart attack in 2012 and Tom Brady released a statement eulogizing his former mentor.

"Coach Martinez's invaluable assistance and support will never be forgotten and will always have a lasting impact on my life,'' Brady said in the statement. "The time we spent together remains some of my fondest memories. His legacy of commitment, toughness and determination will live on forever,'' Brady wrote.

One of the most important moments for perhaps the greatest quarterback of all time was meeting Tom Martinez when he was just fourteen years old, helping to convince Tom Brady to focus on football instead of the other sports he indulged in.