Tom Brady gives harsh criticism of how NFL teams handle rookie quarterbacks

The future first-ballot Hall of Famer did not hold back.

2019: Tom Brady celebrates with coach Bill Belichick after winning 13-3 over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. / Bob Breidenbach/Providence Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

We are expected to see three rookie quarterbacks start for their respective NFL teams immediately, and that is an idea that future first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer Tom Brady is not a fan of.

Brady took it a little bit further than just not being a fan of playing rookie quarterbacks. He had sharp, stern words about how big of a failure it is for the likes of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Bo Nix to be Day 1 starters at the NFL level. Putting it as harshly as possible, Brady thinks today's NFL is a less intelligent game than it was in his time because of this desire to rush young quarterbacks onto the field.

Here is what Brady had to say on the Stephen A. Smith Show:

"I think it’s just a tragedy that we’re forcing these rookies to play early... But the reality is the only reason why they are is that we’ve dumbed the game down, which has allowed them to play."

- Tom Brady via Stephen A. Smith Show

Clarifying what he meant about the game being dumbed down in today's NFL, Brady went on to discuss how NFL coaches are now just meeting quarterbacks where they are at instead of giving them time to fully grasp what they need to grasp before seeing the field.

Brady talked about how he did not start his rookie season, and how that allowed him to get the full picture of what was expected and what was going to be asked of him before taking over as the starting quarterback in 2024.

"We used to spend hours and hours in the offseason, in training camp, trying to be a little bit better the next year... But I think what happens is it discourages the coaches from going to deep levels because they realize the players don't have the opportunity to go to a deep level, so they're just going to teach them where they're at."

- Tom Brady via Stephen A. Smith Show

It is hard to argue with perhaps the best quarterback to ever play the game of football. His former team, the New England Patriots, are following his advice as well as they are expected to let No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye sit behind veteran Jacoby Brissett instead of rushing him onto the field.

Will we see struggles from Williams, Daniels, and Nix as a result of this "dumbing down," or will they prove Brady wrong in 2024?

— Enjoy more free NFL Draft coverage with NFL Draft on SI — 

Rookie preseason winner at every position through first week of preseason

Giants have one lone bright spot thus far through preseason

Falcons' HC makes baffling decision on Michael Penix Jr.'s playing time

Patriots must rip the band-aid off and start Drake Maye

2025 NFL MOCK DRAFT