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Tom Brady was chosen as the commencement speaker for Georgetown University’s business school graduation, and he gave his speech the only way Brady would know how.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion was highly praised by those who spoke before him, prompting Brady to quickly make a joke about his former coach Bill Belichick.
“I don’t do well with compliments. I had a coach for 20 years who told me how I was doing every day,” Brady said.
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Tom Brady celebrates with head coach Bill Belichick after the New England Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime of Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 5, 2017. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Brady said he is “very grateful” to be with the graduates and their loved ones, “even those.” [New York] Jets fans.”
“I’m sitting here looking at this crowd of amazing business executives, and I realized something – sports was a very unusual way to make a living. People were always yelling at me, they gambled on my performance, and they celebrated all my failures. One way sports is very similar to business, though, is that if you do it long enough, your life is defined by numbers. Twenty-three I played my Super number, those seventeen seasons. Three, that was a Super Bowl loss, Eli Manning,” Brady continued.
Brady’s first thesis, however, was fighting the odds and never giving up, and the best way for Brady to convey his motivational message was by telling the story of his Super Bowl LI comeback against the Atlanta Falcons.
Brady talked about the number 99.7, saying that if something happens 99.7% of the time, it’s “a foregone conclusion.” When Brady began telling the story of the comeback, he warned the audience of possible adult language.
“I was an athlete, so you might feel like you’re in the locker room a little bit,” Brady said.
Brady then said the Falcons had a 99.7% chance of winning the Super Bowl when they led 28-3 late in the third quarter.
“It’s not how I thought things would go when I woke up this morning,” he said.
“But you know what? It happens sometimes. You guys will see that. You’ll think you’re better than your competition, you’ll work hard and it still won’t go your way. You’ll find yourself in that space 99.7% of the time wondering how you got there.”
“Overcoming fear and doubt when faced with those challenges is where you can gain the confidence to make the right decisions when things don’t go the way you want,” he continued. “When the odds are stacked against you, when you’re facing your time 28-3, and you believe it’s coming, you have a choice to make: stop or fight your – off.
Tom Brady of the New England Patriots celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 5, 2017. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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“The choice seems so obvious, and it’s easier said than done. I mean, why waste all that energy fighting when you’re sure to lose? Why not quit and live to fight another day? Sometimes, though, there’s no other day. Super Bowl LI, there’s no other day… You might only get one chance to impress your boss or get a promotion, or close your deal early or not? You’re going to face it to give yourself the best chance to succeed. I’m down 25 in the biggest game of my life, do you think? I just stumbled upon my decision to keep fighting The past 25 years of my life had prepared me for that moment.
“You don’t quit, and you don’t make excuses…” Brady continued. “When the opportunity to do something special presents itself, the people who are most ready to face the challenges will be those who have made the most difficult choices, who have faced difficulties and overcome them. They certainly wouldn’t have won all their battles, but they didn’t give up… If there was a 99.7% chance of anything, that I would be behind the counter in Ben The NFL Game Center Before Playing The NFL. I would end my career with seven world championships maybe, because none of these people knew that I would never I stopped.
Brady said he had a decision to make when faced with a 25-point deficit.
“I said to myself, ‘Don’t be a little b—h. Get out there and fight your– win or lose, fight to the end.’ At the time, we didn’t know what the outcome of the game would be, but one thing I’ve learned in sports is the only time you’re sure you’re going to lose is when you quit. “
Brady also told the graduates that they may have to work with people they don’t like, “like the Duke guys,” as that will force them to face their fears and doubts “on the path to success in life.”
“Odds are your 28-3 moment won’t end in a trophy or a parade. It might not even end in victory. It probably didn’t happen to us. But that’s not really the point,” Brady said. “These are all temporary tests where failure is not final, only giving up. Choosing to fight is an opportunity to succeed, yes, but it is also your opportunity to grow and show everyone that although you may be defeated, you are invincible…
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan shakes hands with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady after Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 5, 2017. (Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)
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“The only thing worse than losing the biggest game of your life is losing respect for yourself along the way.”
To finish his speech, Brady urged the graduates to surround themselves with people who push them to do their best, “even if one of those people is a stupid old coach who cuts off their sweatshirt sleeves and yells at you all day.”
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