Tom Brady University of Michigan Game Worn Jersey | 1999 CompUSA Florida Citrus Bowl | Matched to Two Games | Brady's First Bowl Victory As Starting Quarterback

Sotheby’s is proud to present, directly from his personal collection, Tom Brady’s game worn University of Michigan home jersey from the 1999 CompUSA Florida Citrus Bowl. 

On New Year’s Day in 1999, Michigan faced the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 1999 CompUSA Florida Citrus Bowl. The first and only game between two programs, Michigan jumped out to an early lead, up 24-10 at halftime. The Razorbacks thundered back out of the locker room and recaptured an advantage early in the 4th quarter after Brady threw his second interception of the game. Deep in the heart of SEC country, the hogs had seemed to stake a firm claim to a bowl victory. 

As would become clear throughout his NFL career, Brady embraced adversity. After Bowl MVP Anthony Thomas tied the game with a 1-yard run with just under 6 minutes to go, Michigan’s defense stifled Arkansas and forced the Razorbacks to punt from just feet outside their own endzone with 4:33 left, giving Brady favorable field position. Just over two minutes later, Brady calmly dropped back and, despite almost immediate pressure from two defenders, delivered a picture perfect pass from about 21 yards out for the go ahead touchdown and a lead that Michigan would not relinquish. A pick-6 with 1:47 all but sealed it for the Wolverines, and brought Brady his first bowl victory as starting quarterback. His calm under pressure gave Michigan fans an early glimpse of just one of the many qualities that would make him the GOAT. Brady finished the game with 209 yards on 14 of 27 pass attempts, with 1 touchdown.

The jersey was also photomatched to Michigan’s November 14, 1998 game versus the Wisconsin Badgers. Brady led the 15th ranked Wolverines to a 27-10 trouncing of a top-ten Wisconsin Badgers squad in front of the Ann Arbor faithful. Brady was impressive, finishing 15 of 24 with 202 passing yards and one passing touchdown. Brady finished the season with school records for most pass attempts in a single season as well as most completions.

The item is accompanied by letters from MeiGray in regards to photomatching 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.

In 2024, Brady began the next chapter of his storied career in a new arena as the primary color commentator for FOX’s Sunday NFL broadcasts.