Tom Brady University of Michigan Game Worn Jersey | 1995 Builders Square Alamo Bowl | Brady’s First Bowl Game

Sotheby’s is proud to present, directly from his personal collection, Tom Brady’s game worn University of Michigan away jersey from the 1995 Builders Square Alamo Bowl.

The Texas A&M Aggies defeated the Michigan Wolverines, 22-20, in the 1995 Builders Square Alamo Bowl on December 28,1995 in San Antonio. The game featured future NFL players like Brian Griese, Amani Toomer, and Jon Runyan, and came down to the wire, with Michigan pulling to within 2 points of the lead with under 10 seconds left in the game. 

While Brady did not play in the game, this jersey not only represents his first bowl game; it serves as a testament to the resilience that has defined his football career at every level.

When Brady arrived on Michigan’s campus in 1995, he was seventh on the quarterback depth chart and the coach that had recruited him was no longer there. Although a dominant player in high school, Brady would have to prove his worth to the Wolverine coaching staff. Long before he was The GOAT, Brady was just another quarterback on the University of Michigan roster. 

Brady was redshirted for his freshman year and in turn, would not appear in a single game for the entire 1995 collegiate season. Spending his time on the sidelines turned out to be a blessing for the young signal caller. It gave Brady time, which he spent crafting his skills while behind future NFL quarterbacks Scott Dreisbach and Brian Griese. 

The jersey is accompanied by letters from MeiGray and Tom Brady, in regards to provenance. 

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.