Tom Brady about the mental aspects of playing quarterback in the NFL: “You do get better as you get older”

Tom Brady was the oldest NFL MVP at age 40, and the oldest Super Bowl MVP at 43. So if there’s anyone who believes athletes can improve as they get older, it’s no surprise it’s the seven-time Super Bowl champion.

Brady highlights importance of mental game

In an appearance on "Spittin’ Chiclets," a hockey podcast, Brady highlighted the importance of a player’s mental and emotional abilities, which are often overlooked in favor of physical skills.

The Patriots icon says this is especially true for younger players, including draft prospects who are typically evaluated for speed, strength, size, and other physical traits. For Brady, what happens between the ears can be just as important, if not more so.

“Is he smart enough to take in information, process it and use it on the field? Has he mastered the playbook? Does he know how to study? Does he know how to learn from his mistakes?” Brady said. These, he argues, are the most crucial questions when evaluating talent.

Learning from adversity crucial

Bouncing back from disappointment and coping positively with adversity are traits every elite player must possess, the 48-year-old explained. “Adversity will come. It will come at some point. The best players I’ve ever been around, they know how to deal with all parts of those emotions.”

For many, including Brady, developing those abilities comes with experience. “When you become mentally and emotionally a master of yourself, my belief is that you do get better as you get older.”

Brady: “I was a master of the sport at 45″

While Brady acknowledges that physical ability declines with age, he believes players can compensate through their understanding and reading of the game.

“Physically, I was way less developed than other guys, so I had to work my ass off to try to make up that ground. Finally, when I made up that ground, I thought I was really well-rounded and my ability to compete was at a much higher level,” he said.

“As I got better physically through the course of my career, mentally and emotionally I was awesome. At 25 I was good, at 35 I was great, at 45 I was a master of the sport.”

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