Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing. Tom Brady took this sentiment from the legendary Vince Lombardi to heart, as evidenced by the unconventional incentive he used to motivate his teammates to excel in a particular play. This tactic not only helped the quarterback win games but also boosted his personal statistics.

Beyond the infamous “deflategate,” Brady mastered the art of advancing games, even if it meant reaching into his wallet occasionally to give his team the extra push they needed. This was hinted at by former Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard, Ali Marpet.

In an interview with Phil Beniamio on the Wam Bam podcast, Marpet shared an intriguing anecdote about Brady. Marpet, who shared a locker room with Brady in 2020 and 2021, revealed that the former quarterback offered them money to execute a specific play.

$1,000 for each successful screen pass

According to Marpet, Brady “took our starting offensive line aside and said, ‘Hey, if you guys can execute a screen pass for more than 15 yards, I’ll give you $1,000 cash each. That’s for you guys, so every time we achieve that, I’ll be happy to make that payment.'”

In his three years with the Buccaneers, Brady earned at least $90 million, and in his 20 years with the New England Patriots, he earned at least another $245 million, not including his multimillion-dollar endorsements. Thus, paying around $5,000 for every play that made him look good didn’t seem like a significant expense.

Furthermore, the Hobart University graduate noted that Brady “knows how guys are wired,” and his encouragement achieved the desired result. Marpet recalls that they earned the reward on more than one occasion.

Benefits for Brady

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Even though he was in his 40s, closer to retirement than his peak, Brady attempted 2,062 passes in his three years with Tampa Bay, more than any other quarterback in that period. In 2022, the year of his retirement, he accumulated 5,316 yards and 43 touchdowns.

Turning a routine play into a significant play undoubtedly has its benefits. Beyond winning his seventh Super Bowl ring in his first year with the Bucs, Brady’s impressive numbers have guaranteed him a place in the Hall of Fame and established him as the leading contender for the title of Greatest of All Time.