NFL
Tom Brady Had a Weird, College Dream That Was Both Simple and Incredibly Wasteful: ‘I Love New Socks’
Joe Kozlowski began his career as a sports journalist in 2013 and joined Sportscasting in 2019. He covers the NBA and soccer for Sportscasting, with specialties in legacy NBA players such as Michael Jordan and Premier League club Arsenal. Off the clock, he's a Kansas City Chiefs fan and a hockey goalie. Growing up loving Shaquille O'Neal and reading everything he could about the great big men throughout NBA history — likely because he was still tall enough, at least relative to his peers, to play center — he's continued to love learning about and exploring the historical and story-based sides of the basketball archives. As for Arsenal, Joe spent a year living in London and latched onto the local support of the club. He's barely missed a match since, loving Arsene Wenger, enduring the Banter Era, and following along through rebuilds. The Premier League interest developed into a passionate following of the Champions League, Europe's big five league, and international soccer as a whole when played at the highest level. Regardless of the sport, Joe is captivated by the stories of athletes beyond the box scores and how they push the envelope — both in terms of what we think a human is capable of accomplishing and how they find new competitive tactics to win.
Get to know Joe Kozlowski betterPublished17 Feb 2021
Now retired, Tom Brady has become one of the most famous men ever to set foot on the football field. During his time on the gridiron, the quarterback won seven Super Bowls and, unsurprisingly, built up a sizable net worth. However, things were a bit simpler during his time at the University of Michigan.
In college, Brady didn’t seem like a star quarterback. If nothing else, no one would’ve predicted he’d win seven championships. In fact, the quarterback had a pretty simple plan for what he’d do if he ever struck it rich: Buy some new socks.
Tom Brady didn’t seem like a star in college
RELATED: What College Major Did Tom Brady Study at the University of Michigan?
Under normal circumstances, college football is where future NFL stars show their stuff and prove they’re elite athletes. Tom Brady, however, did things a bit differently.
Growing up, Brady played both baseball and football. His skills on the diamond were enough to make him a Montreal Expos draft pick. The teenager chose to stay on the gridiron and headed to Michigan to play his college football.
With the Wolverines, things didn’t get off to the easiest start. Brady barely saw any action during his first two seasons on campus. He began his college career as the seventh quarterback on the depth chart and even considered transferring. Eventually, though, he got his shot.
Brady took over the starting job as a junior and, barring some time in a platoon system, retained the role during his senior years. While his counting numbers didn’t blow anyone away — TB12 threw for 4,644 yards and 30 touchdowns during those two campaigns — he did show a knack for winning big games.
A college dream involving countless pairs of fresh socks
Tom Brady’s net worth was nothing to write home about during college. That financial reality didn’t stop him and his teammates from dreaming about what they’d do if they ever struck it rich.
In a 2012 collection of Tom Brady anecdotes, ESPN‘s Elizabeth Merrill explained that Brady and Michigan teammate Aaron Shea used to share their future plans. While Shea “wanted a Hummer and a Ferrari,” Brady did things differently.
‘If I hit it real big,’ Shea recalls Brady telling him, ‘I want to be able to wake up, put a pair of socks on, and at the end of the day, I throw ’em away.’ I’m like, ‘That’s all you want?’ And he goes, ‘Yeah, that’s what I want. I love new socks.’
Adam Shea, as told to ESPN’s Elizabeth Merrill
In hindsight, throwing out a pair of socks every day sounds incredibly wasteful. If nothing else, though, Brady had already learned the value of caring for his feet.
Tom Brady’s net worth now allows him to buy all the socks he could ever want
Coming out of college, Tom Brady’s dream of new socks probably seemed like little more than a far-off fantasy. These days, though, things are quite a bit different.
Although he joined the Patriots as an unheralded sixth-round pick, Brady developed into a legendary NFL star. He took over the starting job in 2001, won a Super Bowl that season, and never looked back. TB12 now has seven Super Bowl rings, a boatload of individual honors, and is considering his next move in retirement.
Unsurprisingly, Tom Brady’s net worth has grown alongside his NFL resume. Today, the quarterback’s fortune is estimated at $300 million, which means he can buy all the socks he wants. Wearing a fresh pair daily might not be the wisest investment, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s Tom Brady.
Stats courtesy of Sports-Reference
