 Brady with theNew England Patriots in 2007 | |||||||||
| No. 81, 88, 80 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Tight end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1972-01-14)January 14, 1972 (age 53) Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||
| Weight | 280 lb (127 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Cedar Cliff (Camp Hill) | ||||||||
| College | Penn State (1990–1994) | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1995: 1st round, 9th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Kyle James Brady (born January 14, 1972) is an American former professionalfootball player who was atight end for 13 seasons in theNational Football League (NFL) for theNew York Jets,Jacksonville Jaguars, andNew England Patriots. He playedcollege football for thePenn State Nittany Lions, earning first-teamAll-American honors in 1994. He was the Jets' first round draft choice in the1995 NFL draft.
Brady attended Highland Elementary School, Lemoyne Middle School, andCedar Cliff High School, all in theWest Shore School District. While attendingCedar Cliff inCamp Hill,Pennsylvania, Brady lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. In football, he was a first-teamUSA Today All-USA selection, aParade Magazine All-America selection and, as a senior, was theGatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year, and the recipient of the Bobby Dodd Award (which is given to the nation's top offensive lineman) given by the Touchdown Club of Atlanta. In Brady's Junior season atCedar Cliff he scored the lone touchdown in a 14–7 loss toPittsburgh Central Catholic in the 1988 Pennsylvania State AAAA Championship game played atPenn State University.
AtPenn State, Brady was a two-timeAll-Big Ten selection, and a consensus All-America choice as a senior, catching 27 passes for 365 yards and 2 touchdowns. During his senior year in1994, he helped his team to an undefeated record, a conference championship, and the school's firstRose Bowl victory. Although Paterno continued to push for back up TE Chiefa, he was ranked seventh in the all-time reception list for the school. Brady finished his four seasons with 76 receptions for 940 yards and 9 touchdowns.[1][2] He graduated with a degree in exercise and sports science in 1995.
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft6+3⁄8 in (1.99 m) | 258 lb (117 kg) | 33+1⁄2 in (0.85 m) | 9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) | 4.84 s | 1.70 s | 2.81 s | 4.21 s | 35.0 in (0.89 m) | 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) | 18 reps | ||
| All values fromNFL Combine[3] | ||||||||||||
Brady was selected by theNew York Jets in the first round (9th overall) of the1995 NFL draft, much to the chagrin of the Jets fans in attendance.[4] The fans wanted the team to draft future Hall of FamerWarren Sapp and showed it by chanting "We want Sapp! We want Sapp!". After Brady was announced,Joe Theismann said "It just doesn't seem to make sense", speculating thatRich Kotite wanted two tight ends on the field. Jets fans booed Brady and his mother when they appeared on the stage. Although Brady became whatNFL Films later described as a "solid player", fans did not forget the team not choosing Sapp.[5][6]
Brady went on to sign with theJacksonville Jaguars in 1999 and had his best year in the NFL with the Jaguars. In the2000 season, he set career highs with 64 receptions and 729 receiving yards. He was the Jaguars' Man of the Year in 2003. Brady had a reputation with the Jags as a very durable player, having only missed nine games in his twelve seasons in the NFL, and was also known as an outstanding blocker.
His reputation as a durable blocker helped him to land a two-year contract on March 3, 2007, with the New England Patriots to replace departing free agentDaniel Graham at tight end.[7]Bill Belichick had wanted to draft Brady in 1995 as head coach of theCleveland Browns with the 10th pick.[5] When Brady was selected, Belichick traded down to the 30th pick.[8] One website went as far as to label Brady "Belichick'swhite whale."[9]
Despite nagging injuries, Brady played in 14 games for the Patriots in2007, catching nine passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns,[10] culminating withSuper Bowl XLII. He was released by New England on February 29, 2008,[10] and retired shortly thereafter.[11]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Tgt | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1995 | NYJ | 15 | 11 | 53 | 26 | 252 | 9.7 | 29 | 2 |
| 1996 | NYJ | 16 | 16 | 31 | 15 | 144 | 9.6 | 25 | 1 |
| 1997 | NYJ | 16 | 14 | 35 | 22 | 238 | 10.8 | 24 | 2 |
| 1998 | NYJ | 16 | 15 | 50 | 30 | 315 | 10.5 | 35 | 5 |
| 1999 | JAX | 13 | 12 | 46 | 32 | 346 | 10.8 | 30 | 1 |
| 2000 | JAX | 16 | 15 | 94 | 64 | 729 | 11.4 | 36 | 3 |
| 2001 | JAX | 16 | 16 | 63 | 36 | 386 | 10.7 | 20 | 2 |
| 2002 | JAX | 16 | 16 | 67 | 43 | 461 | 10.7 | 42 | 4 |
| 2003 | JAX | 16 | 15 | 46 | 29 | 281 | 9.7 | 26 | 1 |
| 2004 | JAX | 11 | 8 | 23 | 14 | 103 | 7.4 | 21 | 1 |
| 2005 | JAX | 16 | 14 | 26 | 18 | 157 | 8.7 | 33 | 1 |
| 2006 | JAX | 16 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 37 | 7.4 | 13 | 0 |
| 2007 | NE | 14 | 9 | 16 | 9 | 70 | 7.8 | 20 | 2 |
| Career | 197 | 175 | 558 | 343 | 3,519 | 10.3 | 42 | 25 | |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Tgt | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1998 | NYJ | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 28 | 9.3 | 17 | 0 |
| 1999 | JAX | 2 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 44 | 8.8 | 17 | 1 |
| 2005 | JAX | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 | NE | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 7.5 | 12 | 0 |
| 8 | 6 | 17 | 11 | 88 | 8.0 | 17 | 1 | ||
Brady was a participant in the NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program, a two-week program held at the top Americanbusiness schools for NFL players preparing for careers after football.[12] Brady attended the workshop at theWharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in February and March 2008.[13] In June 2009, Brady took part in the 2009 NFL/NFLPA "Broadcast Boot Camp," a program designed by the NFL Broadcasting Department and their broadcast partners to prepare players for possible post-playing careers in broadcasting.[14]
Brady was an analyst forNFL Europe[15] before being hired by theBig Ten Network as a football analyst for the 2009 season,[16] where he was partnered with Rick Pizzo on theBig Ten Football Saturday: Pre-Game Show.[17]
Brady became a licensed financial advisor in 2009 and worked at First Florida Credit Union before enrolling at theFlorida Coastal School of Law inJacksonville,Florida, in 2010.[15] He graduated in May 2013, interned withHolland & Knight,[15] and passed the bar later that year. He planned to use his combined financial and legal training to advise former NFL players on how to avoid financial pitfalls, along with real estate, securities law and estate planning.[15]
Brady resides in Neptune Beach, Florida with his wife Aubrey, and his four children; Kellen (b. March 2005), Brooke (b. August 2007), Blair (b. May 2013), and JJ (b. June 2025).
Brady's father John Brady was born inChadwell Heath,Romford,Essex, UK. He played Minor League Baseball for two seasons.
Brady traced his Irish roots to Ballinagh co. Cavan, Turlough Co. Mayo and Tierneevin and Ballingarry Co. Galway.[18]
His grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather were members of theRoyal Irish Constabulary.
A 2004Sports Illustrated article noted Brady is aU.S. Civil War buff.
In 2004 Brady earned his pilot's license.[19] Brady flies a Cirrus SR-22 airplane.
On March 21, 2009, he threw out thefirst pitch at opening day ceremonies for theGreen Cove Springs Athletic AssociationLittle League Baseball.[20] He served as honorary chairman of the 2009Big 33 Football Classic.[11]
In May 2013, he earned his law degree from Florida Coastal School of Law. Brady currently owns his own business practicing real estate law.
On June 24, 2014, he was selected as honorary chairman for the Global Ireland Football Tournament.[21]