Over the past 20 years, New England Patriots fans have watched Tom Brady lead his team to six Super Bowl titles.
Next Sunday, they’ll see Brady take the Super Bowl stage in a different uniform for the first time.
Brady, who led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their first NFC championship since 2002 in their first season outside New England, was asked a simple question during his video conference on Thursday afternoon:
If he were a Patriots fan, would he be happy or sad to see the 43-year-old quarterback play in the Super Bowl for another franchise?
“I had an incredible 20 years (in New England),” Brady replied. “Really, an incredible 20 years. I wouldn’t change anything in 20 years. That was magical, and all the relationships I developed, they made me who I am as a person, as a player. My children were born in Boston. I have great affection for the city and everything Boston has meant to me and my family – and all over New England, not just Boston. “
Brady remembers not being familiar with New England geography when he joined the Patriots in 2000. After two decades there, he hit the free service for the first time and chose to pursue what he called “a different opportunity” by signing with Tampa Bay last season.
“I didn’t even know where New England was when I was chosen by New England,” said Brady. “This has always been a funny story. They called me and said, ‘Oh, you were chosen by New England.’ And I said, ‘This is incredible. Where is New England? ‘And I landed in Providence, which really screwed me up because it’s not even in Massachusetts.
“It was a great 20 years and, at the end of the day, I had the opportunity to become a free agent. I evaluated different opportunities and just tried to make the best decision possible for me and my family. I chose Tampa and it has been an incredible experience. “
Brady led the Bucs to a record 11-5 this season, followed by playoff wins over the Washington Football Team, New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers. They will face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl LV.
Miniature photo via Benny Sieu / USA TODAY Sports Images