What Was Tom Brady’s NFL Combine Performance? A Flashback To His Early Days In 2000

Tom Brady is considered to be one of the most successful QBs in NFL history. But if anyone saw his performance at the 2000 NFL Combine, they wouldn’t have predicted it. He wasn’t the strongest, fastest, or most athletic player on the field. In fact, his lackluster numbers almost cost him a pro football career.

With the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine underway, let’s take a look back at how Brady’s underwhelming Combine performance shaped his legendary career.

A Late Draft Pick With Little Hype

Brady entered the 2000 NFL Draft after playing college football at Michigan. Unlike today’s highly touted first-round picks, he wasn’t expected to be a star. He was selected in the sixth round as the 199th overall pick, the seventh quarterback taken that year. Scouts and teams weren’t impressed by his athletic ability, and his Combine performance didn’t help.

Tom Brady’s 2000 NFL Combine Results

At the Combine, Brady’s numbers were far from impressive. His results included:

• 40-yard dash: 5.28 seconds (second slowest time among quarterbacks)
• Vertical jump: 24.5 inches
• 20-yard short shuttle: 4.38 seconds

Brady didn’t participate in the bench press, broad jump, or the 60-yard shuttle. His times and measurements placed him near the bottom of his position group, making it easy to see why scouts doubted his potential.

Scouting Report: A Harsh Assessment

NFL scouts were not kind in their evaluations of Brady. In an Instagram post in 2017, Tom Brady revealed what was said about him during the draft process:

• “Poor build, skinny”
• “Lacks great physical stature and strength”
• “Lacks mobility and ability to avoid the rush”
• “Lacks a really strong arm”
• “Can’t drive the ball downfield”
• “Does not throw a really tight spiral”
• “System-type player who can get exposed if forced to ad-lib”
• “Gets knocked down easily”

Despite these criticisms, one thing that stood out was his height. At 6’4″, he was one of the two tallest quarterbacks in the draft class. However, teams focused more on his lack of speed, strength, and arm power rather than his size and intelligence.

Also Read: Has Tom Brady Taken An Ownership Stake In CardVault? A New Name And Era For The Sports Collectible Brand

How Tom Brady Used His Combine Performance As Motivation

Brady’s disappointing Combine showing became fuel for his career. Although he never had elite athleticism, his mental toughness, leadership, and work ethic set him apart. He turned his weaknesses into strengths, proving that raw numbers don’t always define success in the NFL.

The same Combine that saw players with better physical attributes get drafted ahead of him also overlooked future stars like Anquan Boldin, Terrell Suggs, Drew Brees, and Orlando Brown Jr. These players, like Brady, were doubted based on their Combine performances but went on to have outstanding careers.

Watching Tom Brady's NFL combine highlights synced with the audio of his career highlights is kind of a wild trip. pic.twitter.com/aYhU636Hxx

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