Tom Brady Signed ‘Drew Bledsoe Injured / Brady Plays’ September 23, 2001 Game Ticket

If there is one thing that nearly all football players, coaches, analysts, and fans can agree on, it is this: Tom Brady is the GOAT. 

The seven-time Super Bowl champion has dominated the NFL over the course of his 22-year professional career. His individual accomplishments are vast: three-time MVP, five-time Super Bowl MVP, 15 Pro Bowls, all-time passing touchdowns leader, and all-time passing yards leader. But individual accolades aside, Brady will be best remembered for his unparalleled playoff success. When the weather got cold and the pressure of do-or-die games mounted, Brady rose to the occasion time and time again. His 35 career postseason victories are the most of any player, not to mention 19 more than the next closest quarterback, Joe Montana. When it comes to winning in the postseason, no one has ever done it better than Tom Brady. 

But none of that might have happened if former New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe hadn’t gotten injured.

After being selected by the New England Patriots with the 199th overall pick in the 6th round of the 2000 NFL Draft, Brady spent his first NFL season as a backup. The starter, Drew Bledsoe, was a talented quarterback in his own right. Most notably, he had led the Patriots to an appearance in Super Bowl XXXI in 1997. With three Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl appearance to his name, Bledsoe had no plans of relinquishing his starting quarterback role. 

Everything changed in the Week 2 matchup between the Patriots and New York Jets on September 23, 2001. 

A big hit knocked Bledsoe out of the game in the 4th quarter, opening the door for Brady to take over starting quarterback duties. Brady only played one series in the 10-3 loss but the stage had been set for the greatest career in NFL history. 

The following week, Brady was off and running after leading the Patriots a 44-13 victory. He ultimately guided the Patriots to an 11-5 record and the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory at Super Bowl XXXVI. 

Sotheby’s is proud to present this original ticket from the September 23, 2001 game between the New England Patriots and New York Jets at Foxboro Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. 

The ticket, which is encapsulated in a PSA slab, is signed by Brady in blue marker. It is one of only 4 graded tickets from this game featuring Brady’s signature in the PSA population report.