10 things about Tom Brady you may not have known

1. Brady spent two years as a backup at the University of Michigan

Brady arrived in Ann Arbor as the seventh-string quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines.

He spent two years backing up future NFL quarterback Brian Griese before winning the battle against Drew Henson to start under center during his junior season.

Even after two successful years, Brady wasn't sure he would make it to the NFL, so he made a resumé as a backup plan.

2. He has more Super Bowl appearances than any other player in NFL history

Photo: Reuters/USA Today Sports

Super Bowl LIII marked Tom Brady's ninth career Super Bowl appearance, three more than any other player in NFL history.

With the Patriots' win, Brady broke his tie with pass rusher Charles Haley to win his NFL record sixth Super Bowl ring.

3. Brady is the second-highest paid player in NFL history

Photo: AP Photo/Gerry Broome

Brady has already earned $261.8 million in his 21-year NFL career, good enough to make him the second-highest paid player in the history of the league.

He also makes many millions more annually through endorsement deals with companies like Under Armour, Intel, Beats by Dre, and Shields.

But he still makes less money than his wife

4. Brady has two sons and a daughter

Photo: Instagram/Gisele

Three months into his relationship with Gisele, Brady learned that his ex-girlfriend was pregnant with his child.

In addition to his eldest son, Jack, Brady and Bündchen went on to have a son, Benny, and a daughter, Vivian.

5. He doesn't train like a typical athlete

Photo: AP Photo/Mark LoMoglio

Unlike most other football players, Brady avoids traditional weight training and instead opts for resistance bands to increase pliability and flexibility.

He believes long, soft muscles lead to peak performance.

6 Brady is ridiculously competitive

Photo: AP Photo/Butch Dill

Past teammates had described instances in which Brady had broken ping pong paddles and thrown backgammon boards across the room when he was losing.

He also once gave his team a pep talk before a charity football game against a group of firefighters.

7 Brady loves to drop F-bombs to relieve tension on the field

Photo: John Bazemore/AP Images

"There's nothing that quite expresses the way I feel like that word," Brady said.

8 Despite his success with the Patriots, he long considered moving on to an

Photo: Liynne Sladky/AP

He and head coach Bill Belichick butted heads often throughout their time together.

9 He was famously taken with the 199th overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft

Photo: Elise Amendola/AP

That's right. 198 players were selected in that year's draft class — including six other quarterbacks — before the New England Patriots took Brady in the 6th round.

It's safe to say it was the sleeper pick of the century.

10 He also does everything he can to keep his mind sharp

Photo: Jason Behnken/AP Images

Brady uses brain exercises intended for people struggling with issues ranging from memory loss to cognitive damage with the hopes of improving his cognitive function.

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