Patriots Legend Tom Brady Makes Sporting News' 140 Greatest Sports Moments List

Brady's epic Super Bowl 51 comeback ranked 8th on the prestigious list.

Mar. 20, 2026 at 4:40am

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Former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who won six Super Bowls with the team and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before retiring in 2023, has been named to Sporting News' 140 Greatest Sports Moments list. Brady's most memorable Super Bowl victory came in 2017, when he orchestrated a masterful 25-point comeback to stun the Atlanta Falcons in overtime with a 34-28 win.

Why it matters

Brady's inclusion on this prestigious list further cements his legacy as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. The Super Bowl 51 comeback is widely regarded as one of the most iconic moments in sports, showcasing Brady's unparalleled poise and ability to lead his team to victory even when facing a seemingly insurmountable deficit.

The details

Down 28-3 late in the third quarter, Brady led the Patriots to 31 unanswered points, taking advantage of every Falcons' offensive and defensive lapse. Brady threw for 466 yards and handed off to running back James White for both the game-tying and game-winning touchdowns, leading the Patriots to victory in the first-ever overtime Super Bowl.

  • Super Bowl 51 was played on February 5, 2017.
  • The Falcons led the Patriots 28-3 with 8:31 left in the third quarter.

The players

Tom Brady

A former six-time Super Bowl champion quarterback with the New England Patriots and one-time Super Bowl champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.

Matt Ryan

The 2016 NFL MVP who was the quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl 51.

James White

The Patriots running back who caught 14 passes for 110 yards and scored the game-tying and game-winning touchdowns in Super Bowl 51.

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What they’re saying

“When the Falcons were up 21-0 late in the first half and then extended their lead to 28-3 with 8:31 left in the third quarter of Super Bowl 51, it felt like 2016 NFL MVP Matt Ryan would be leading Atlanta to its first ring. That likely would have been the case had the GOAT, New England's Tom Brady, not been his quarterback counterpart.”

— Vinnie Lyer

“The signature of Brady's career was clutch comebacks, and this was the most epic. Brady led the Patriots to 31 unanswered points, taking advantage of every Falcons' offensive and defensive lapse to even the game at the end of regulation with plenty of help from running back James White (14 catches, 110 yards) as his go-receiver.”

— Vinnie Lyer

The takeaway

Tom Brady's inclusion on Sporting News' 140 Greatest Sports Moments list for his epic Super Bowl 51 comeback victory further solidifies his legacy as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. The improbable comeback showcased Brady's unparalleled poise and ability to lead his team to victory even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.