On Sunday, Tom Brady will start his 269th career NFL game while becoming the first player ever to participate in seven Super Bowls.
A lot has happened in the 15 years and four months that have passed since Brady made his first NFL start — fittingly against Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 30, 2001. Manning and Brady had a hell of a rivalry over the years, and they’re the only two quarterbacks to start a Super Bowl beyond the age of 38.
What did the world look like on the day Brady first took the field as a starter? This is what was happening at the time.
The Patriots were coming off a 5-11 season and were 0-2.
Drew Bledsoe started the first two games of the year, but he struggled before getting hurt against the Jets in Week 2. The Pats scored just 20 points those first two weeks.
The Pats played at Foxboro Stadium.
Gillette Stadium opened the following year.
The Patriots and Colts were in the same division.
And the Houston Texans didn’t exist yet.
It was Week 3, but it was supposed to be Week 4.
The September 11 attacks pushed the season back one week.
Doug Flutie started for the San Diego Chargers that day.
Doug Flutie is now 54 years old.
Keanu Neal, who will start at safety for the Falcons on Sunday, was six years old.
So were Falcons tight end Austin Hooper and linebacker Deion Jones.
Alicia Keys’ “Fallin” was the No. 1 song in the country.
Don’t Say a Word — starring Michael Douglas, Brittany Murphy and Sean Bean — was the No. 1 film at the box office. Training Day was released a week later.
Mark McGwire held the all-time single-season home run record.
At least for a few more days. That week, Barry Bonds hit his 70th to tie him and finished the season with 73.
Two days later, “Scrubs” premiered on NBC.
Nobody knew who a 7-year-old Justin Bieber was.
Or 15-year-old Stefani Germanotta, who later became known as Lady Gaga. Or 11-year-old Taylor Swift.
Kylie Jenner had just turned 4.
This is Kylie Jenner now…
About Brad Gagnon
