SouthernWorldwide.com – Tom Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion, was the commencement speaker for Georgetown University’s business school graduation. He delivered his speech in his signature style, filled with humor and motivational insights.
After receiving high praise from those who spoke before him, Brady quickly quipped about his perceived tough coaching experiences. He stated, “I don’t do well with compliments. I had a coach for 20 years tell me how sh—y I was every day.”
Brady expressed his gratitude for being present with the graduates and their families, even extending a nod to any New York Jets fans in attendance. He reflected on his career, noting, “Sitting here looking out at this crowd of amazing business majors, I realized something – sports was a very strange way to make a living.” He elaborated on how his performance was constantly scrutinized, with people celebrating his failures. Brady drew a parallel between sports and business, emphasizing how longevity in either field leads to a life defined by numbers.
He cited specific numbers from his career: 23 seasons played, seven Super Bowl wins, and three Super Bowl losses, humorously adding, “Damn it, Eli Manning.”
The core message of Brady’s commencement address revolved around overcoming adversity and the importance of never quitting. He illustrated this by recounting the incredible comeback in Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons.
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Brady introduced the concept of a 99.7% probability, suggesting that when something occurs with such high odds, it’s often considered a “foregone conclusion.” He cautioned the audience about potential strong language as he delved into the narrative of the comeback, likening the atmosphere to a locker room.
He highlighted that the Falcons had a 99.7% chance of winning the Super Bowl when they held a commanding 28-3 lead late in the third quarter. Brady admitted this was not how he envisioned the game unfolding that morning.
“But you know what? It happens sometimes. You guys are going to see that. You’re going to think you’re better than your competition, you’re going to work really hard and it’s still not going to go the way you want. You’re going to find yourself on the short end of that 99.7% wondering just how the hell you got there,” he told the graduates.
Brady emphasized that confronting fear and doubt in the face of challenges is crucial for developing the confidence to make sound decisions when things go awry. He posed a critical question: “When the odds are stacked against you, when you’re facing your own 28-3 moment, and believe me it’s coming, you have a choice to make: to quit or to fight your a— off.”
He acknowledged that the choice to fight seems obvious but is difficult in practice. Brady questioned the logic of expending energy in a seemingly certain loss, suggesting quitting to fight another day. However, he stressed that sometimes, “there isn’t another day.” He used Super Bowl LI as an example, stating there was no other day for that opportunity.
Brady advised the graduates that they may only have one chance to impress a boss, secure a promotion, or close a deal. Therefore, he urged them to prepare themselves in advance to handle adversity. He explained that his decision to keep fighting down by 25 points in the biggest game of his life wasn’t random, but a result of 25 years of preparation.
“You don’t quit, and you don’t make excuses…” Brady stated. He continued, “When the opportunity to do something special presents itself, the people most prepared to meet the challenges will be the ones who have made the most hard choices, who have faced adversity and overcome it. They certainly wouldn’t have won all of their fights, but they never quit…” He reflected on his own unlikely path, noting that few could have predicted his success, but they didn’t know he would “never, never quit.”
Brady recounted his internal dialogue during the 25-point deficit: “I said to myself, ‘Don’t be a little b—h. Go out there and fight your a— off. Whether you win or lose, fight to the end.’” He concluded that the only sure way to lose is by quitting.
He also touched upon the necessity of working with individuals one might not like, using “guys from Duke” as an example. Brady suggested that such situations can help graduates confront their fears and doubts on their journey to success.
“The odds are your 28-3 moment won’t end in a trophy or a parade. It may not even end in victory. It almost didn’t for us. But that’s not really the point,” Brady said. He described these moments as tests where failure is not final, only quitting is. The choice to fight, he explained, is an opportunity for success, growth, and demonstrating resilience: “while you may be beatable, you are unbreakable…”
“The only thing worse than losing the biggest game of your life is losing respect for yourself along the way.”
In his closing remarks, Brady encouraged the graduates to surround themselves with people who inspire them to be their best, even if it includes “a cranky old coach who cuts the sleeves off their sweatshirt and screams at you all day.”
