5 of the greatest moments in Tom Brady's iconic career

#1 2020 NFL season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady

Tom Brady took the most significant risk in his career by joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2020 NFL off-season. The Buccaneers hadn't made a playoff appearance in nearly 13 years heading into the 2020-2021 season. The franchise had just one Super Bowl championship in its history.

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How did the Buccaneers recruit Tom Brady?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training Camp

The Buccaneers took an interesting approach to recruit the most wanted man in the NFL. Bruce Arians made a near-perfect pitch to the former Patriots QB, telling him that he was the missing piece in the Buccaneers' quest for a Super Bowl.

Ice ice Robbie https://t.co/udx55p5tqa

— Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) June 11, 2021

The one thing Brady wanted to do with his new team was win a Super Bowl to prove the critics wrong, the ones who said he was only a system quarterback. Arians not only pitched a perfect game while recruiting Brady, but he also gave him something that he never had in 20 years with the Patriots.

Bruce Arians wanted to build a relationship with Brady. He didn't want to replicate the Patriots' way, he wanted to do things Brady's way. Arians wanted his QB to have fun in Tampa Bay and proceeded to give him more control over the day-to-day preparations.

1⃣2⃣ → 7⃣ pic.twitter.com/Ka9TIXZQT9

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) June 9, 2021

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers listened to their shiny new QB and allowed him to recruit for the franchise. Brady wanted Rob Gronkowski out of retirement, and the Buccaneers made it happen. He also recruited Leonard Fournette and Antonio Brown, fashioning the roster to his liking.

When the Buccaneers allowed Tom Brady to bring the guys he wanted on board, they proved that catering to his needs on the pitch turns water into wine.

The NFL scheduled a dream matchup in Week 1 of the 2020-2021 season when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers met Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.

Tom Brady versus Drew Brees was a matchup that every NFL fan wanted to see, considering the two QBs belong in the top tier of the quarterback position. Unfortunately, the Bucs didn't fare well in Week 1, and the Saints dominated. At times, Tom Brady looked like a deer in the headlights and struggled against the Saints' defense.

That deer-in-the-headlights look on Tom Brady's face in Week 1 was the last time the NFL saw that look for the 2020-2021 season. Brady led the Buccaneers to an 11-5 record and three road playoff game victories.

Tom Brady's 2020-2021 stats with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Completions: 401
• Attempts: 610
• Completion percentage: 65.7%
• Passing yards: 4,633 yards
• Touchdowns: 40
• Interceptions: 12

Tom Brady will now enter the 2021-2022 season with two goals on his list. Goal number one: beat Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. Goal number two: become the first NFL QB to win back-to-back Super Bowls with two franchises.