Tom Brady, 48, said a piece of advice he received in college helped him reach his potential as a football player.
On Wednesday’s episode of the “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce” podcast, Brady reflected on his “tough experience” at the University of Michigan, where he spent much of his early college career on the bench.
“I really had what I’d called a lot of self-defeating attitudes and behaviors. I always had an excuse,” Brady said.
“‘Coach doesn’t want me in there. They’re not giving me the opportunity,'” he said, recalling the mindset he had at that time.
Brady said his perspective began to change after he started meeting with sports psychologist Greg Harden.
“I would go into his office every Tuesday, and he would say, Tom, I like you. You work hard, but you have a shitty attitude,” Brady said, recounting Harden’s words.
Harden urged him to stop focusing on things outside his control and instead make the most of every opportunity he was given.
“Every time you go in there, you bring energy. You bring enthusiasm. If they give you three reps, you do the best with the three you get,” Brady said, recalling Harden’s advice.
The retired NFL star said Harden encouraged him to approach every practice with the same intensity as a game because it would earn his teammates’ trust and ultimately improve his performance.
Brady said he began putting Harden’s advice into practice.
“Sure enough, my energy started getting way better. I was bringing juice. I had the right attitude. And then it started to improve,” Brady said.
Brady said things got better in his second year, and by his third, he was competing for the starter position alongside future NFL quarterback Brian Griese.
“Brian beat me out. Our team went undefeated and won a national championship. But I learned a lot,” Brady said.
The experience gave him confidence that he was on the right track and motivated him to continue doing his best, he said.
“Every day, and that’s what I did,” Brady added.
Brady spent 20 seasons with the New England Patriots before joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. Over his 23-year NFL career, he won seven Super Bowls and a record five Super Bowl MVP awards.
Brady has previously credited his success to resilience and viewing setbacks as opportunities to improve.
In a June appearance on the “Stick to Football” podcast, Brady said he focused on improving what he could control instead of dwelling on the physical traits he lacked.
He said his biggest weakness — his lack of speed — ultimately became one of his biggest strengths. “It forced me to prepare and study better than basically anybody that played,” Brady said.
Brady isn’t the only elite athlete who has opened up about the mental strategies he relies on to perform under pressure.
Rafael Nadal has also spoken about the mindset that fueled his success throughout his career.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion said he viewed self-doubt as a strength because it pushed him to keep improving.
“I always had doubts, and for me, the doubts are good,” Nadal said. “For me, doubts are positive because they allow me to go on court knowing that I need to improve.”
Michael Jordan has said he never stopped looking for ways to challenge himself, a mindset he credits with driving his success both on and off the court.
Some tech leaders have echoed a similar mindset. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel has said reframing stress as a “gift” and a “learning opportunity” has helped him manage pressure and become a more effective leader.
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