Patriots fans know the power of Tom Brady. They cheer him on the field every Sunday during football season. They see his videos go viral. They watch him give back to the New England community and beyond.
So when "Time" released its list of The 100 Most Influential People, it didn't come as a surprise to Patriots Nation that Tom made the cut. Time breaks down the list into five categories, -- Pioneers, Artists, Leaders, Titans and Icons -- and Tom was featured as one of the most influential "Titans."
The list is made up of visionaries from across all sectors, including sports, movies, music, politics, business and more. With the likes of Viola Davis, Rep. John Lewis, Theo Epstein, Jordan Peele and LeBron James, Tom is certainly in good company.
Along with a photo, Time's website also has short essays written about each influential person, and Conan O'Brien perfectly sums up why Tom deserves a place on this list and in sports history.
"Tom Brady all but wrote his own tribute when he won his fifth Super Bowl ring and became the greatest quarterback of all time. Even the most virulent haters have no answer for that stroke-inducing overtime win over Atlanta. The mic was dropped. But Tom's real achievement is that he willed himself to be," Conan wrote. "When Tom was drafted in the second-to-last round, he was slow and scrawny, and buried on the depth chart below Drew Bledsoe, Michael Bishop and the drummer for the Cars. With a monastic diet, intense training and a relentless, inspiring positivity, Tom built himself from the ground up. Great people, like mountain ranges, can feel inevitable, but Tom Brady didn't have to be this good. He simply refused to be less than the best ever, and no essay by anyone but me is necessary. Thank God I'm here."
With this, Tom's legacy is secure, and we all have Conan to thank.
