Tom Brady was drafted on April 15-16, 2000, during the NFL Draft held in New York City.

He was selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round , as the 199th overall pick —a moment now legendary as one of the biggest draft steals in sports history. Coming out of the University of Michigan, Brady was overlooked due to his unremarkable college stats and a lackluster NFL Combine performance, where scouts described him as a "tall, gangly kid" who ran a slow 5.2-second 40-yard dash.

Draft Day Details

  • Exact Timing : The Patriots submitted his draft card late on Day 2 (April 16), a compensatory pick earned after losing punter Tom Tupa. He was the seventh quarterback taken that year.
  • Team Context : New England had Drew Bledsoe as their established starter, so Brady joined as a low-profile backup initially.
  • Historical Echo : This pick preceded his breakout in 2001, leading to six Super Bowl wins with the Pats and one with Tampa Bay.

"Brady was a lightly regarded prospect... not selected until the sixth round... 199th overall."

Why It Stands Out

Imagine waiting through 198 picks, your phone silent, only for the Patriots to call—a story that's inspired countless underdog tales. In hindsight, forums like Reddit buzz with "what if" debates: How many teams passed on the GOAT? Fast-forward to 2025, and 25th-anniversary retrospectives (like Patriots' YouTube tributes) highlight it as the franchise's best decision ever.

Even today in 2026, with Brady retired, his draft remains a trending NFL touchstone in podcasts and drafts analyses—no major new developments, but endless nostalgia.

TL;DR : Sixth round, 199th overall, 2000 NFL Draft by the Patriots—pure underdog magic.**

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.