Tom Brady ended the debate over where he stands in the NFL's quarterbacking hierarchy last night, leading the New England Patriots to a thrilling 32-29 win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
With a record-setting performance, two Super Bowl rings, two Super Bowl MVP (Most Valuable Player) awards and the keys to a brand new Cadillac, the 27-year-old Brady is considered one of the all-time greats in the game.
Only nine quarterbacks have won two Super Bowls (Joe Montana 4, Terry Bradshaw 4, Troy Aikman 3, Bob Griese 2, John Elway 2, Jim Plunkett 2, Roger Staubach 2, Bart Starr 2) and all but Aikman and Plunkett are members of the Football Hall of Fame.
An even smaller select group of three players - Montana, Bradshaw and Starr - have two Super Bowl MVP awards in their trophy case.
"I think you have to give a lot of credit to Carolina," offered a modest Brady, who just three years ago was Patriots' third string quarterback.
"That's as tough a team as we played all season. "All the guys you see in front of me are the heart of the coaching staff and the organization. "I'm just so proud to be the quarterback and none of it would be possible without these guys and all of the fans we've got back in Boston."
The MVP in New England's Super Bowl win over the St Louis Rams two years ago, Brady is at his best when the most is on the line, improving his personal post-season record to a pristine 6-0.
Brady's performance last night was considered one of his best games ever. He completed a record 32 passes for 354 yards (fourth best in Super Bowl history) and three touchdowns against a ferocious Panthers defence.
But the thing that impresses most about Brady is the intangibles. Gifted with unique ability to read opposing defenses, Brady plays mistake-free football and seldom beats himself. It is those qualities, along with his natural leadership, that have taken the Patriots on a 15-game winning run, the second longest in NFL history behind the 1972 Miami Dolphins, winners of 17 in a row.
"Like I said before, he is the best quarterback in the game," gushed Patriots cornerback Ty Law. "I'll take him over anyone."