Tom Brady was a star quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He gained national fame for leading the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers to seven Super Bowl victories.
Credit: © Bob Rosato, Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

On Wednesday, February 1st, 2023, the legendary quarterback Tom Brady announced his retirement for the second time. After 23 years in the National Football League, he explained this retirement was official and permanent. Brady had announced his retirement exactly one year before but reversed his decision after six weeks. He played the 2022 to 2023 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady exits the NFL as the most accomplished player in football history.

Brady played for the New England Patriots from 2000 to 2020 and for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2020 to 2023. Brady gained national fame for leading the Patriots and Buccaneers to seven Super Bowl victories. He led the Patriots to victory against the St. Louis Rams (now the Los Angeles Rams) in 2002, the Carolina Panthers in 2004, the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005, the Seattle Seahawks in 2015, the Atlanta Falcons in 2017, and the Los Angeles Rams in 2019. In 2021, he led the Buccaneers to victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Brady is the only quarterback to win seven Super Bowls. He was named the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player in 2002, 2004, 2015, 2017, and 2021. He was also named the NFL Most Valuable Player for the 2007, 2010, and 2017 seasons.

During his NFL career, Brady was known for his leadership qualities and his accurate passing. Brady completed more passes (7,753), threw for more yards (89,214), and threw more touchdown passes (649) than any other quarterback in NFL history. He also won more regular season games (251) and more playoff games (35) than any other quarterback. Brady is the only quarterback with more than 10,000 career playoff passing yards. In 2022, he became the first quarterback with a combined total of 100,000 career regular season and playoff passing yards. During the 2007 regular season, Brady threw 50 touchdown passes, an NFL record until Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos broke it by throwing 55 touchdown passes in 2013. During his career, Brady led the NFL in passing touchdowns five times (2002, 2007, 2010, 2015, and 2021) and passing yards four times (2005, 2007, 2017, and 2021).

Thomas Edward Brady, Jr., was born on Aug. 3, 1977, in San Mateo, California. He played college football at the University of Michigan. He graduated in December 1999. The Patriots selected Brady in the sixth round of the NFL draft in 2000. He was the 199th player picked. Brady appeared in only one game in his rookie season. He became the team’s starting quarterback early in the 2001 season after regular quarterback Drew Bledsoe was injured.

In April 2015, the NFL accused Brady and the Patriots of involvement in illegally deflating footballs used in the American Conference championship game between New England and the Indianapolis Colts in January 2015. The league suspended Brady for four games, fined New England $1 million, and stripped the Patriots of two draft picks. In 2020, Brady left the Patriots to play with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs runs the game-winning drive in Super Bowl LVII. The Chiefs beat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35.
Credit: © John Angelillo, UPI/Alamy Images

The Kansas City Chiefs rallied with two fourth-quarter touchdowns to overcome a 10-point halftime deficit and defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, February 12 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts led an aggressive Philadelphia offense, rushing for three touchdowns and passing for one more. But the Chiefs’ dynamic quarterback Patrick Mahomes, hobbled by a high ankle sprain, battled back in the second half to clinch the win. The first Super Bowl ever to feature two number-one-seeded teams, it was the second Super Bowl championship for the Chiefs in the last four years.  

The Eagles took the kickoff to open the game and drove downfield, capping the drive with a 1-yard quarterback sneak for the touchdown. The Chiefs answered immediately with a brisk three-minute drive capped by a touchdown catch by All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce. On the first play of the second quarter, Eagles receiver A.J. Brown made a spectacular 45-yard touchdown catch to regain the lead 14-7. Hurts fumbled on the next drive. Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton grabbed the ball and sprinted 36 yards for the score, tying the game 14-14. The Eagles converted two fourth-down plays in the next drive as Hurts scored his second rushing touchdown, taking a 21-14 lead. Following a three-and-out by the Chiefs, the Eagles added a 35-yard Jake Elliott field goal to make the score 24-14 at the half.  

Caribbean superstar Rihanna floated into the Super Bowl halftime show on a glowing red platform high above the turf suspended by wires. Wearing a glossy red outfit and surrounded by backup dancers clad in white, Rihanna took to the stage for her first live performance in four years. She later revealed that she was performing while pregnant with her second child.  

The Chiefs opened the second half with a touchdown drive to cut their deficit to 24-21. Soon after, the Eagles responded with a 33-yard field goal to extend their lead 27-21. Mahomes hit back with a 5-yard touchdown pass to give the Chiefs their first lead in the game at 28-27. The Eagles followed with a three-and-out and a punt that Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney returned 65 yards to the 5-yard line. The Chiefs scored three plays later on a Mahomes touchdown pass to take a 35-27 lead. The Eagles quickly bounced back as wide receiver DeVonta Smith grabbed a pass and scrambled 45 yards up the sideline to the 2-yard line. Hurts followed with his third rushing touchdown on another quarterback sneak. The 2-point conversion was good to tie the score 35-35 with just over 5 minutes remaining. But the Chiefs marched downfield, aided by a couple of key penalties, to the 2-yard line. After a couple of plays to run down the clock, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made the 27-yard field goal to put the score 38-35. With only seconds left and no timeouts, a Hail Mary pass by Hurts fell short to end the game.  

Hurts finished the game with 27 completions in 38 pass attempts for 304 yards. He also rushed 15 times for 70 yards and three touchdowns. Mahomes completed 21 of 27 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed six times for 44 yards. Mahomes, who had just been named the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the 2022 season, was also named Super Bowl MVP for the second time.  

Quarterback Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tosses a pass during Super Bowl LV. The Bucs beat the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9, giving Brady his seventh Super Bowl championship.
Credit: © Mike Ehrmann, Getty Images

On Sunday, February 7, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in the Super Bowl, at the Buccaneers’ home field in Tampa, Florida. The game was both one for the ages and a battle of the ages. Forty-three-year-old quarterback Tom Brady of the Buccaneers faced off against 25-year-old quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs. Brady, a now seven-time Super Bowl champion, cemented his legacy as the GOAT, an abbreviation popular with fans for greatest of all time. Mahomes, a one-time Super Bowl champion, has been called the Baby GOAT, but the young star may have a long career ahead in which to attempt to steal Brady’s title. Brady became the oldest quarterback to win a Super Bowl and the oldest player ever to appear in one.

Professional football’s championship game is known for its powerful performances—both athletic and musical. The night began with the R&B singer-songwriter H.E.R. singing “America the Beautiful.” Then the country music singer-songwriter Eric Church and the R&B and hip-hop singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan shared the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman performed an original poem about the game’s three honorary captains. The captains were celebrated for their work in such fields as education, medicine, and veterans’ affairs, particularly in a year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic (global outbreak of disease) and massive protests against racism and police violence in the wake of the George Floyd killing. Gorman became the first poet to recite a poem at the Super Bowl.

The Chiefs scored first, putting three points on the board. It was not until the last minute of the first quarter that the Buccaneers scored. Brady passed to tight end Rob Gronkowksi for a touchdown. (Gronkowski and Brady had played nine seasons together with the New England Patriots.) Gronkowski scored again a few minutes later, giving Tampa Bay a 14-3 lead. The Chiefs then scored another field goal. But the Buccaneers scored another touchdown, extending the lead to 21-6 at the half.

The Super Bowl is known for its halftime show, which has featured such famous musicians as Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, and Prince. This year, the Canadian R&B singer, songwriter, and music producer The Weeknd performed. He sang a selection of his hits, including “Blinded by the Lights,” “Can’t Feel My Face,” and “Starboy.”

To start the second half, the Chiefs scored yet another field goal, cutting the lead to 21-9. But, that field goal would be the last score of the night for Kansas City. Halfway through the third quarter, the Buccaneers’ Leonard Fournette ran for 27 yards to score Tampa Bay’s fourth and final touchdown of the night. Following an interception, the Buccaneers’ kicker Ryan Succop scored the final points of the game, with a 52-yard field goal.

In the United States, the Super Bowl has become basically another holiday, with parties, festive foods, and gifts. (Well, at least the victors receive gifts—big, shiny rings.) But, like so many holidays this past year, this Super Bowl looked different than in years past. In many places, efforts are being made to prevent the spread of  COVID-19. Such efforts often include social distancing, meant to limit contact among people and thus the spread of germs. This year’s Super Bowl featured limited seating, and the fans in attendance were spaced for safety. Many of the fans were vaccinated healthcare workers who had been given free tickets to the game. Fans were also given masks and hand sanitizer.

For the fifth time in his career, Brady was named Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (MVP). Not muffled by their masks, fans cheered for Brady as he thanked family and friends and celebrated lucky number seven.

February 5, 2020

On Sunday, February 2, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 to win Super Bowl LIV (54), the championship of the National Football League (NFL), at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes led a furious fourth-quarter comeback to overcome a 20-10 deficit and give Kansas City its first championship since taking Super Bowl IV 50 years ago in 1970. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid earned a long-awaited first title after 366 games over 21 seasons as an NFL head coach.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes runs the ball during Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, on Feb. 2, 2020. Credit: Elsa/Getty Images

The Chiefs entered Super Bowl LIV with one of the most explosive offenses in NFL history, and the 49ers countered with the league’s top-ranked defense. After a brief ineffective possession by the Chiefs, the 49ers got on the board first with a 38-yard field goal. Late in the first quarter, Mahomes capped a 75-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to put the Chiefs on top 7-3. Kansas City then intercepted San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and turned the mistake into three points with a 31-yard field goal. Garoppolo recovered with a 15-yard touchdown pass to fullback Kyle Juszczyk to even the game at 10-10 before halftime.

In the second half, 49ers kicker Robbie Gould nailed a 42-yard field goal for a 13-10 San Francisco lead. The ‘Niners then turned an interception off Patrick Mahomes into a touchdown and a 20-10 advantage. Mahomes threw another interception and the 10-point lead began to look secure for San Francisco. With 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter, however, Mahomes regained his normally excellent form. The young quarterback connected on a 44-yard heave to wide receiver Tyreek Hill and then drilled a short touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce to make it a 20-17 game.

The Chiefs defense quickly stopped the 49ers, and the Kansas City offense went back to work. Mahomes connected on a series of short passes before hitting receiver Sammy Watkins on a 38-yard completion. Running back Damien Williams then caught a 5-yard touchdown pass to put Kansas City in front 24-20. A desperate 49ers offense turned the ball over on downs at midfield, and the Chief’s Williams then sealed the win with a quick 38-yard touchdown run and a 31-20 lead with just 1:12 left in the game. After the clock ran down to zero, Patrick Mahomes was named the youngest Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl history–he had turned 24 in September 2019. He completed 26 of 42 passing attempts for 286 yards. The Niners’ Garoppolo connected on 20 of 31 passes for 219 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Williams ran for 104 yards on 17 carries for the Chiefs, and running back Raheem Mostert ground out 58 yards on 12 runs to lead the ‘Niners.

San Francisco’s Super Bowl loss ended an otherwise brilliant season that saw the team turn around a 4-12 record in 2018 to go 13-3 in 2019 and claim the National Football Conference’s top playoff spot. It was the 49ers’ seventh trip to the Super Bowl. The team last won it all in Super Bowl XXIX in early 1995. For Kansas City, it was the team’s third trip to the title game. The Chiefs lost the first Super Bowl to the Green Bay Packers in January 1967. They beat the Minnesota Vikings to win Super Bowl IV in 1970.

September 4, 2019

Tomorrow night, September 5, the Green Bay Packers will play their old rivals, the Chicago Bears, to open the 100th season of the National Football League (NFL). The NFL, the major professional football league in the United States, played its first season in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA). In 1922, the association was renamed the National Football League. Since then, the NFL has gained wide popularity, and the league championship—the Super Bowl—is one of the biggest one-day events in American sports.

The National Football League (NFL) is celebrating its 100th season in 2019. Credit: © National Football League

The NFL will mark its 100th season in a variety of ways. The NFL has produced television series that will fill the rosters of the “NFL’s All-Time Team” as well the “NFL 100 Greatest” players. The league will also broadcast a series of interviews with current NFL stars and members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. An NFL program called “Huddle for 100″ will encourage fans to join players and coaches in giving at least 100 minutes of time to help local charities.

The APFA was formed in Canton, Ohio, and included 14 teams based in the Midwest and in New York. The association’s first president was the legendary athlete Jim Thorpe, who also starred for and coached the APFA’s Canton Bulldogs. The Dayton Triangles hosted the first APFA game on Oct. 3, 1920, when they defeated the Columbus Panhandles 14-0. The Akron Professionals won the first APFA championship. Only two teams from that first APFA season, the Racine (Chicago) Cardinals (now the Arizona Cardinals) and the Decatur Staleys (now the Bears), remain as NFL teams.

Jim Thorpe, seen here in his Canton Bulldogs uniform, was the first president of the American Professional Football Association, the forerunner of the National Football League. Credit: UPI/Bettmann

The 1922 NFL had 18 teams. The number of teams has since varied as the league has expanded and retracted. In 1933, the 10-team NFL split into two divisions. Later that year, the Bears, the Western Division champion, hosted the New York Giants, the Eastern Division champion, at Chicago’s Wrigley Field in the first official NFL Championship Game. (Before 1933, the team with the best season record was named league champion.) The Bears, led by head coach George Halas, fullback Bronco Nagurski, and halfback Red Grange, beat the Giants 23-21.

The first NFL draft of college players took place in February 1936. In October 1939, the first locally televised NFL game featured the Brooklyn Dodgers (not to be confused with the baseball team) and the Philadelphia Eagles. In December 1951, the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cleveland Browns 24-17 in the first nationally televised NFL Championship Game.

The creation of the American Football League (AFL) in 1960 meant new competition for the NFL. To eliminate bidding wars between the two leagues for players, the AFL and NFL established a common draft in 1966. As an outgrowth of this agreement, the first Super Bowl was played in 1967, with the NFL champion Packers defeating the AFL champion Kansas City Chiefs. After continuing to operate separately through 1969, the leagues reached a merger agreement. Under the agreement, all AFL teams entered the NFL in 1970. The expanded NFL consisted of two 13-team conferences. The NFL now consists of 32 teams divided into the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference.

February 6, 2019

On Sunday, February 3, the New England Patriots downed the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in Super Bowl LIII (53), the championship game of the National Football League (NFL). In the lowest scoring game in Super Bowl history, the Rams and Patriots both exhibited stellar defenses, but only the Patriots managed to reach the end zone at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in Atlanta, Georgia. With the slow-paced victory, the Patriots joined the Pittsburgh Steelers as the only NFL teams with six Super Bowl titles. New England quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick became the first six-time individual Super Bowl champions in NFL history.

On Feb. 3, 2019, Patriots running back Sony Michel scores the only touchdown of Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Credit: © Maddie Meyer, Getty Images

Sunday’s game was a rematch of Super Bowl XXXVI (36), in which New England beat the Rams 20-17.  It was the 11th Super Bowl appearance for the Patriots, the most of any NFL team. It was the fourth Super Bowl for the Rams, whose only title came in Super Bowl XXXIV (34), a 23-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans.

The game’s opening minutes forecast the offensive doldrums to come. The Rams intercepted Brady’s first pass attempt, ending a promising drive, and the Patriots managed only a 42-yard field goal through the game’s first two quarters. The Rams’ offense struggled even more, barely pushing the ball past midfield and punting on all six first half possessions.

The Rams eked out a 53-yard field goal to tie the game in the third quarter, but Brady and the Patriots responded with the difference-making scoring drive in the fourth. Starting at the New England 31-yard line, Brady completed four quick passes, the last of which found tight end Rob Gronkowski on the Rams’ two-yard line. From there, running back Sony Michel punched the ball into the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point made it 10-3 Patriots.

With more than four minutes remaining in the game, the Rams had plenty of time to mount a comeback. Los Angeles quarterback Jared Goff completed three passes to reach the New England 44-yard line. Taking a shot at the end zone, a Goff pass fell incomplete. On the next play, Goff tried again, but this time the pass was intercepted by Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Taking over the ball at their own four-yard line, New England put the nails in the Los Angeles coffin by eating up three minutes on a drive that ended with a 41-yard field goal and a 13-3 lead. With a minute to play, Los Angeles scraped together a desperate drive that led to a missed field goal and the end of the game.

Playing in his first Super Bowl, Jared Goff completed 19 of 38 pass attempts for 229 yards and no touchdowns. Playing in his ninth Super Bowl, Tom Brady’s just-good-enough stats included connecting on 21 of 35 pass attempts for 262 yards and no touchdowns. With 10 catches for 141 yards, Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

The 13-3 final score was the lowest in Super Bowl history. The previous record was set in 1973, when the Miami Dolphins defeated the Washington Redskins 14-7 in Super Bowl VII (7).

February 6, 2018

On Sunday, February 4, the Philadelphia Eagles upset the favored New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII (52), the championship game of the National Football League (NFL). The Eagles and Patriots battled throughout the game, which went down to the wire as a last-second Patriots touchdown pass attempt fell harmlessly in the end zone at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was the first Super Bowl title for the Eagles, who last won an NFL title in 1960. (The first Super Bowl was not played until 1967.)

Tight end Zach Ertz scores the go-ahead touchdown for the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Feb. 4, 2018. The Eagles beat the New England Patriots 41-33 for the team’s first Super Bowl title. Credit: © Patrick Smith, Getty Images

Sunday’s game was a rematch of Super Bowl XXXIX (39), which New England won 24-21. The Eagles also lost Super Bowl XV (15) to the Oakland Raiders, 27-10. It was the 10th Super Bowl appearance for the Patriots, the most of any NFL team. The Eagles’ victory was met with euphoria in Philadelphia, while the reaction was understandably more subdued in wintry New England, a region denied its sixth Super Bowl title.

The Eagles led for much of the exciting game, but the Patriots pulled ahead in the fourth quarter and it began to look as though New England was on its way to another title. But the Eagles snatched the lead back with only minutes to go as Philadelphia tight end Zach Ertz caught a short pass and dived across the goal line for a touchdown. On the ensuing possession, Eagles defensive lineman Brandon Graham forced a fumble from New England superstar quarterback Tom Brady, and the Eagles recovered. A field goal put Philadelphia up eight points with just over a minute remaining. The Patriots, masters of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, drove to midfield for one last shot at the end zone (a touchdown and two-point conversion would have sent the game into overtime). But the comeback threat ended there: Brady’s long “Hail Mary” pass fell to the ground as the clock went “double zero.”

Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles capped a remarkable season that saw him rise from backup to Superbowl Most Valuable Player. With just three games remaining in the regular season, Foles replaced Eagles sensational sophomore quarterback Carson Wentz, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in early December. In the Super Bowl, Foles threw for 373 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass on a brilliant fourth-down play late in the second quarter. Foles is the only quarterback in Super Bowl history to throw a touchdown pass and catch one as well. Eagles head coach Doug Pederson hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a Super Bowl champion in just his second season with the team.

A number of Super Bowl records were set during Sunday’s game. The Eagles and Patriots combined for the most yards of total offense (1,151). With 505 passing yards, Brady broke his own record of 466 yards set last year. It was a record eighth Super Bowl for Brady, who, at age 40, is the oldest quarterback to start a Super Bowl. It was also a record eighth Super Bowl appearance for New England head coach Bill Belichick. New England’s 33 points were the most for a losing team in Super Bowl history. The Patriots, winners of five Super Bowls, have also now lost five Super Bowls, a dubious honor shared only by the Denver Broncos.

Justin Timberlake provided the halftime entertainment at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, a miniconcert medley that included a tribute to Prince, a favorite son of Minneapolis who passed away in 2016.

December 29, 2017

This Sunday, December 31, is the 17th and final week of the National Football League (NFL) regular season. The Arizona Cardinals will wrap up their season with a contest against the Seattle Seahawks. With a 7-8 record, the Cardinals will miss the playoffs even with a win, ensuring that they will add to their NFL-longest title drought of 70 years. The Cardinals, the NFL’s oldest franchise, last tasted success in 1947, when the then-Chicago Cardinals downed the Philadelphia Eagles 28-21 to win the NFL Championship Game. (The first Super Bowl was not played until 1967.)

The Chicago Cardinals’ Billy Dewell (41, at left) chases a pass from quarterback Paul Christman (44, at right) during the team’s 28-21 victory over the Eagles in the 1947 NFL Championship Game at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Credit: © Bettmann/Getty Images

The Cardinals’ long case history began way back in 1898 with the Morgan Athletic Club on the south side of Chicago. The amateur team took on any comers, changing into their “cardinal red” jerseys as the Racine (a Chicago avenue, not a Wisconsin city) Normals in 1901. The team—which became known as the Cardinals—kicked around long enough to join the Decatur Staleys (now the Chicago Bears) and 12 other teams to form the American Professional Football Association in 1920, a league that became the NFL in 1922. The team entered the NFL as the Chicago Cardinals to avoid confusion with another team in Racine, Wisconsin. In 1925, the Cardinals won their first NFL championship. That team was led by Pro Football Hall of Famer John “Paddy” Driscoll, a former Northwestern University and Navy football star who played both quarterback and running back.

February 7, 2017

On Sunday, February 5, the New England Patriots overcame a 25-point deficit to defeat the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in Super Bowl LI (51), the championship game of the National Football League (NFL). The Patriots trailed 28-3 before rattling off 31 unanswered points to complete the largest comeback in Super Bowl history, winning in overtime at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. It was the fifth Super Bowl victory for the Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady, who won the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award for a record fourth time.

A 2-point conversion by New England Patriots receiver Danny Amendola ties the score at 28-28 late in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 5, 2017. The Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime. Credit: © Ronald Martinez, Getty Images

The game began rather quietly as neither team scored in the first quarter. The Falcons exploded for three touchdowns in the second quarter, however, taking a dominating 21-3 lead into halftime. No team had ever come back to win from more than 10 points down in a Super Bowl, and many Falcons fans began celebrating early.

After a vivacious halftime musical performance by Lady Gaga, Atlanta resumed the romp, adding a touchdown to make the score 28-3 with less than three minutes to play in the third quarter. New England refused to quit, however, notching their first touchdown (but missing the extra point) for a 28-9 score at the end of the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, a Patriots field goal put the game at 28-12 with 9:44 to play. At that point, statisticians had Atlanta’s win probability at over 99 percent—but no one told Tom Brady and the Patriots, who turned a Falcons fumble into a quick touchdown. A 2-point conversion put the score at 28-20. The Falcons drove downfield on their next possession, getting within field goal range. But a Patriots sack of Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan and a holding penalty put the Falcons in reverse and they were forced to punt.

Brady, already one of the most storied quarterbacks in the history of American football, then decided to add to his legacy. He led New England on a 10-play, 91-yard drive that culminated with a 1-yard touchdown run by running back James White as the clocked ticked under 1 minute to play. A 2-point conversion was still needed to tie the game, so that’s what Brady delivered. He tossed the ball into the hands of receiver Danny Amendola, who pushed the ball over the goal line: 28-28. The final seconds of the fourth quarter ticked away uneventfully and, for the first time in Super Bowl history, the game went into overtime.

The Patriots won the coin toss, allowing them to take the ball first in overtime. With momentum—and, seemingly, fate—firmly on their side, Brady again led New England downfield. The Patriots marched 75 yards on 8 plays, winning the game on a 2-yard White run into the end zone: New England 34, Atlanta 28. The Patriots erupted in jubilation as a clearly stunned and disbelieving Atlanta team shuffled slowly off the field.

April 29, 2016

The National Football League (NFL) draft is an unofficial holiday on the calendar of many pro football fans. Like a sports-themed hybrid of New year’s Day, Christmas, and your birthday, it is a day filled with optimism and hope for the future for fans of every team as well as the players selected. This year, representatives from all 32 NFL teams and the top-ranked college prospects from across the country gathered in Chicago between April 28-30 for the televised event that regularly draws high ratings.

The Los Angeles Rams chose University of California quarterback Jared Goff as the top overall pick of the NFL draft in Chicago on April 28, 2016.
Credit: © Charles Rex Arbogast, AP Photo

Drama marked the draft from the beginning as teams traded future picks for higher first round choices in order to land coveted players. The Los Angeles Rams traded a number of future picks to the Tennessee Titans in return for the number one overall pick. The Rams chose University of California quarterback Jared Goff. The Philadelphia Eagles had the next pick, which they obtained in a trade with the Cleveland Browns. The Eagles chose North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz. This was the second consecutive year that quarterbacks were selected one-two in the draft. In all, seven teams traded for better first round positions.

The draft is the process by which NFL teams select players from the ranks of college football. Most of the players the teams choose are seniors who have completed their college playing careers. However, juniors and underclassmen who declare their eligibility for the draft may also be selected. The first choice goes to the NFL team that ended the preceding season with the worst record, unless that team trades the draft choice. The Super Bowl winner—in this case, the Denver Broncos—picks last. Denver, however, traded some picks to the Seattle Seahawks to move up to the 26th position. Seattle made the first round’s final pick. Every team hopes to land a future star player, while some picks will ultimately fail and be labeled as “busts.”

As in most NFL drafts, most first rounders were selected from the top college teams. Eight players were selected from the Southeastern Conference, the most of any college football conference. Five players from The Ohio State University of the Big 10 Conference were among the first 20 players selected in the first round, one player short of the record six first-round picks from the University of Miami in 2004.

There were only 31 selections made in this year’s first round. In 2015, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell took away the first round pick of the New England Patriots following accusations that the team tampered with footballs in a playoff game. The 2016 NFL Draft continues for six more rounds over the next two days.