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Buccaneers' Legend Tom Brady Runs Faster 40-Yard Dash in 2024 Than He Did in 2000

Tom Brady decided to have some fun and re-run the 40-yard dash 24 years after he first did as an NFL draft prospect.

Collin Haalboom

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As the years go on, our bodies begin to give way. It's a harsh reality that all human beings need to come to grips with at some point in their lives. That reality is drastically magnified for professional athletes, who not only need to maximize their body's performance in order to achieve success at their jobs but they're forced to do so under the watchful eye of thousands -- sometimes millions -- of critics. 

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Tom Brady, like LeBron James in basketball, is an exception to the common aging process. As the years passed by in his NFL career, Brady's health and physical fitness steadily improved. Primarily because of his increased prioritization of health, diet, and fitness, Brady found an edge in his later years and was ultimately able to prolong his success on the field because of it. 

24 years ago, as a 22-year-old draft prospect, Brady wasn't exactly a blue chip prospect. His 40-yard dash at the NFL combine certainly didn't help his stock. It's part of the reason why 198 players heard their names called in the 2000 NFL Draft before he did. 

Since Brady retired, and really dating back to when he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent in 2020, Brady also increased his likability. After breaking out of the rigid confines of Bill Belichick's 'Patriot Way', Brady presented himself as more open with the media, and certainly more fun-loving on social media.

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So in honor of the NFL combine, and to show off his rejuvenated health, Brady decided to put himself to the test by running the 40-yard dash approximately 24 years after he first did as an NFL prospect back in 2000. 

Although the time is unofficial, it's obvious from the video overlay above that Tom Brady -- at 46 years old -- is faster than he was at 22. 

Although I don't think this result will shock anyone who's followed Tom Brady's physical transformation over the years, it's a strong testament to Brady's ability to prolong his career, and his health, despite Father Time's best efforts to slow him down. 

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Collin Haalboom
COLLIN HAALBOOM

Prior to joining BucsGameday and Sports Illustrated, Collin's written content was provided through Bucs Banter, and NFL Draft Lounge. He is also the creator and host of the Bucs Banter Podcast. He is a graduate of the Communication Studies program at McMaster University, where he was also a varsity basketball player, and later an advanced scout. He lives with his wife and two children in Hamilton, ON. You can follow Collin on YouTube and Twitter.