Tom Brady, The Modern Day Joe Namath

Every so often there comes an athlete who transcends their sport. Their presence is felt far beyond the playing field and their reach extends beyond their adoring fans. This distinction is what separates the accomplished athlete from a celebrity superstar.

In football, this type of celebrity status is incredibly difficult to obtain. The sport’s most impressive stars are hidden away under a helmet and lumped together with 21 other players. Football talent is easy to identify, but leveraging those skills to build a brand is how transcendent athletes are born.

LeBron James was a celebrity before he even received his high school diploma. Had anyone even heard of Maurice Jones-Drew during his formative years? If I had, I certainly didn’t give him a second thought.

Only a handful of NFL players have reached an off-field level of super-stardom. Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath was one of them.

“Broadway” Joe was charismatic, engaging, exciting and handsome. His good looks were tailor made for the bright lights of New York and his superior play and talent engrained him into the hearts and minds of football fans. Plus, he once hit on my mom at a bar in Italy. Can you believe that? I was roughly 15 years away from being Broadway Joe’s little boy!

Anyway, Namath was arguably the NFL’s first media darling. Since his reign as a national icon, Namath has opened the door for other NFL athletes to become prominent figures in the ever-watchful eyes of the public.

Today, Tom Brady is the epitome of the athlete-celebrity and the modern day Joe Namath. Their personalities may differ, but Brady’s celebrity standing mirrors that of Joe Namath’s.

Talent is the pedigree one must absolutely posses in order to become a “somebody” beyond the stadium. With a career resume that is bigger than Brett Favre’s ego (and growing), I think it’s safe to say Brady has that in bulk.

Three Super Bowl victories, two Super Bowl MVP awards and two NFL MVP trophies are all the convincing I need. Clearly, the guy can make a name for himself with a football in hand.

Similar to Namath, it is Brady’s “golden locks,” traditional good looks and err, “extracurricular” activities, which have made him a household name. By extracurricular activities, I mean dating only the most beautiful women the world has to offer.

Let’s put it this way: if I had to choose between a winning lottery ticket and a date with Brady’s super model wife, Gisele Bundchen, my account balance would be even less than before because of the money I shelled out for her steak dinner.

Brady is an intelligent and exciting figure who knows how to work an interview. He is fiery and passionate on the field and that resonates with fans. These reasons have contributed to his success and fame off the field.

The New England quarterback is one of the few athletes who could sponsor a female footwear brand masquerading as a unisex product and instantly make it acceptable for men of all ages to go out and score some “Uggs.”

Yes, I admit it. After Brady officially came on as a sponsor I went out and purchased some Ugg slippers. So what? My girlfriend thinks they’re cool…(Man Law No. 4: A sports writer shall never support his point with the coolness approval of his girlfriend). He’s had the same impact on Gillette, Audi and Under Armour among others.

Brady has used his skills to build a recognizable brand that extends far beyond the gridiron. He is a modern day Joe Namath. Both wanted to win the Super Bowl on Sunday, be in the gossip column on Monday and walk a red carpet on Tuesday. They impacted our lives and became part of American culture beyond just football circles.

It is for this reason that Tom Brady is widely known by people who have never watched a single snap of football. He has become a media favorite.

Of course, celebrity status is a slippery slope. One misstep and it can all fall apart. We’ve seen the public antics of Tiger Woods, Terrell Owens and Michael Phelps prove to be extremely detrimental. For every shining star (Brady) there are 10 who fell from grace.

As major movie buffs, my older brother and I love to examine film stars and compare their accomplishments and failures. We’ve come to the agreement that big names like Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have a very interesting dynamic. We believe that Damon has had the better career thus far due to his critical acclaim and eclectic choice of successful movies. On the other hand, Affleck has been the bigger celebrity. The public is drawn to his high-profile romances and Hollywood persona.

Brady’s immense talent and winning track record have given him a Hall of Fame career already. His teenage heartthrob looks and public life away from football have elevated him to celebrity status. Tom Brady, just as Joe Namath before him, has combined the best of both worlds.

By doing this, he has subtly made the name on the back of his jersey just as important as the one on the front.