On October 3, 2021, Tom Brady became the NFL's all-time leader in career passing yards. He passed Drew Brees, the man who had held the record since 2018. The moment came in the least likely place: back in New England, where his career began.
A record broken in Foxborough, in unfamiliar colours
Brady returned to Gillette Stadium for the first time since leaving the Patriots in 2020, now in Tampa Bay colours. He had spent 20 years there and won six Super Bowls. Rain fell, and the score was still level when the record fell in the first quarter.
He found wide receiver Mike Evans on a crossing route for a 28-yard gain. That carried him past Brees' mark of 80,358 yards. There was no long ceremony — a brief slide on the big screen and a short "Brady! Brady!" chant.
The Buccaneers could not turn the drive into a touchdown, settling for a field goal. Brady finished the night 22 of 43 for 269 yards. Tampa Bay won 19-17.
A milestone built on seven titles
The record came about eight months after Super Bowl LV, Brady's record seventh title and his first with a second franchise. He already held the record for career touchdown passes. Brees, watching from the CBS booth, had known Brady since their college days.
Afterwards Brady turned the praise outward. "I just think it's an amazing statistic in that so many people can share in it with me," he told reporters. "Passing yards have to be caught, so I just hope that everybody who caught passes from me over the years just had a little smile on their face tonight."
He would end that season with NFL records of 719 attempts and 485 completions. The number would keep climbing for one more season before he stepped away.
