Tom Brady University of Michigan ‘Final College Game’ Worn Jersey | 2000 FedEx Orange Bowl | Matched to 2 Games

Tom Brady’s last game at the University of Michigan also happened to be arguably the finest performance of his college career. The 2000 FedEx Orange Bowl pitted Michigan Wolverines, ranked #8 in the nation versus the #5 Alabama Crimson Tide, and is considered by many to be a critical part of the ‘origin story’ of Tom Brady, where many fans saw glimpses of his potential for greatness for the first time.

After Michigan fell behind by two touchdowns by the second quarter, Brady took matters into his own hands, throwing three touchdown passes to David Terrell and engineering a thrilling comeback to tie the game by the end of regulation. The game was the first Orange Bowl ever to reach overtime.

Brady did not waste any time getting the Wolverines on the board in extra time, connecting with tight end Shawn Thompson in the endzone on the first play from scrimmage. After Michigan converted the extra point, they held a 35-28 lead over the Crimson Tide. Alabama looked poised to tie the game, scoring a touchdown on their next possession, however they missed the extra point, ultimately falling to Michigan 35-34. 

Brady threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns in his final collegiate game before entering the NFL Draft. He completed 34 of 46 passes, which ranked third in school history at the time and is still top 10 in program history today. 

After the game, Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit Free Press wrote: 

"How perfectly fitting. On the final day of its season, Michigan again trailed and rallied and astounded and frustrated. And it again stood behind its senior comeback quarterback, Tom Brady, and pulled out an improbable victory."

The item is accompanied by letters from MeiGray in regards to photo matching and Tom Brady in regards to provenance. 

The jersey was also matched to a game on September 25, 1999 when Michigan played the Wisconsin Badgers. The Wolverines won 21-16, and Brady completed 17 of 27 passes for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Going Deeper - Tom Brady

Humble Beginnings and the Road to Greatness

There are only a few athletes who are near-universally accepted as the greatest in their sport: Tiger Woods, Muhammad Ali, Wayne Gretzky, Babe Ruth—and Tom Brady.

While most of them entered their respective sports as highly touted prospects, Brady’s journey began as an unassuming sixth-round pick of the New England Patriots in the 2000 NFL Draft.

During ESPN’s segment covering the 199th pick, resident draft expert Mel Kiper remarked, “[Brady] throws a very catchable ball.” Watching the segment today, there is little evidence Kiper realized he was talking about the player who threw perhaps the most catchable ball in the history of the sport. Brady holds the record for the most passing yards, completions, and touchdowns in NFL history.

Kiper would go on to talk about Brady’s perceived weaknesses: “The question is going to be mobility. He only runs a 5.25 forty [yard dash] and of course when you have those edge pass rushers, you have to avoid the initial defensive end, the initial pass rusher. Can he do that at the pro level?”

Brady’s seemingly pedestrian 2000 NFL Combine performance (his 40-yard dash was on par with some offensive lineman) and the now infamous photo of his less-than-strapping, unathletic physique, have become part of the lore for what many consider the best draft pick of all time. Every year come draft time, that photo of Brady gets circulated through social media as teams hope to strike gold again as the New England Patriots did in the year 2000.

Brady would acknowledge as much when he posted the picture to his personal Instagram years later, with the caption:

“19 years ago today the @patriots took a chance on the guy in this photo: Me (199) 😂. Thank you to EVERYONE who’s helped me to prove them right! PS: Did they stop taking these photos after mine?? 🤣🤣”

What followed, of course, is legend. Brady would go on to join the Patriots as their fourth-string quarterback and was, by no means, a lock to even make the team. By the following season however, he was thrust into a starting role after veteran starter Drew Bledsoe sustained an injury in week two. That opportunity was all Brady needed. He would lead the Patriots to a 20-17 victory in Super Bowl XXXVI that year and become the youngest Super Bowl MVP.

Brady would win five more Super Bowls with the New England Patriots as well as one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on his way to becoming the best quarterback, and arguably player, in the history of the sport. No NFL player has ever come close to being as good for as long. If you split Brady’s career into segments, you would find two, maybe even three, Hall of Fame resumes.