Tom Brady is long gone from the college ranks, but if he were to do it over again, utilizing NIL would be one no-brainer.
An eventual sixth-round pick by the New England Patriots before going on to win seven Super Bowl rings (six with the Patriots, one with the Bucs), Brady enjoyed an illustrious NFL career that has since turned him into a color analyst at Fox, a part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders and one of the sport’s best quarterbacks of all-time.
Pulling the curtain back, however, Brady spoke openly about how different his era of college football would have been if NIL had existed.
Simply put. Brady wanted a bit of freedom. In an interview with BR Gridiron, it had nothing to do with money or material items, but more so an everyday essential.
“If you had transportation as a college kid, you could do anything." Brady said.
It seems like a simple request for someone who was always busy balancing classwork, workouts, games, practices, and social obligations.
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Nevertheless, though, it seemed to work out for Brady nearly two decades later. But there was a time when NIL didn’t exist, and now it has taken over the entire sport.
Brady has since returned the favor to his alma mater, helping the Wolverines land likely starting quarterback Bryce Underwood in a blockbuster flip from LSU last fall.
Although it remains to be seen whether Underwood's gamble pays off, it's clear Brady has warmed up to the idea that NIL could have benefited when Brady was beginning to establish himself.
Turning back to the present, NIL will never be a question of if ever again, and that's saying a lot.