When you think of Tom Brady, you probably see a statue. A tall, skinny guy in a clean jersey standing perfectly still in the pocket while a 300-pound defensive tackle tries to eat him. You definitely don’t think of Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen. Honestly, for most of his career, the idea of a Tom Brady rushing td was basically a league-wide joke. He looked like he was running through knee-deep molasses.
But here’s the thing: he was actually elite at it.
I’m not talking about 40-yard scampers. I’m talking about the most efficient, annoying, and inevitable yard in football. If the New England Patriots or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers needed three feet, Tom Brady was going to get those three feet. He turned the quarterback sneak into a weapon of psychological warfare.
The Numbers Behind the Tom Brady Rushing TD
Let’s get the hard data out of the way because people usually guess low on this. Throughout his 23-season career, Brady racked up 28 rushing touchdowns in the regular season. If you add in the playoffs—and you have to with Brady because he basically lived in the postseason—that number jumps to 35 total rushing touchdowns.
Think about that.
He has more career rushing touchdowns than many "dual-threat" guys who didn't last as long. He has more than some Pro Bowl running backs. In 2021, at the age of 44, he actually tucked the ball and ran for two scores. He was older than most of the coaches on the sidelines, yet he was still diving into the end zone.
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He wasn't fast. His longest career run was only 22 yards. But inside the five-yard line, he was a surgeon with a helmet on.
Why the QB Sneak Was Unstoppable
Every defensive coordinator in the AFC East knew it was coming. It didn't matter. Since 2001, Brady attempted more than 150 quarterback sneaks. No one else was even close. Drew Brees was second, but he was nearly 100 attempts behind.
What made the Tom Brady rushing td so consistent?
It wasn't just strength. It was the "vibe" of the line. Brady had this uncanny ability to feel the "soft spot" in the defensive interior before the ball was even snapped. If a nose tackle was leaning an inch too far to the left, Brady was going right. He would bark out a cadence, see the linebacker flinch, and then just fall forward.
- Technique: He didn't just dive; he stayed low and kept his "center of gravity" underneath the defenders.
- The Snap: He worked with centers like Dan Koppen and David Andrews for years to perfect the timing so he was moving the millisecond the ball touched his hands.
- Decision Making: If the look wasn't there, he’d check out of it. He rarely forced a sneak into a brick wall.
A Masterclass in Efficiency
Some analysts look at "Expected Points Added" (EPA). In that category, Brady’s rushing value was basically off the charts for a pocket passer. Most quarterbacks lose yards on sacks or fumbles when they try to move. Brady only moved when he knew he’d win.
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The TB1K Milestone
For years, the internet trolled Brady about his rushing yards. He was famously "in the negatives" for a while because of all the kneel-downs at the end of games. Every time he took a knee to run out the clock, he lost a yard. It was a statistical tax on winning.
In 2018, he finally hit the 1,000-yard career rushing mark.
The "TB1K" movement was half-ironic, half-legendary. It took him 19 seasons to get there. When he finally crossed the line against the Vikings, the stadium went nuts. He finished his career with 1,123 rushing yards. It’s a modest number for a career that spanned two decades, but every single one of those yards was earned in the trenches.
Postseason Heroics on the Ground
If you want to see where the Tom Brady rushing td really mattered, look at the Super Bowls. He didn't just throw for 500 yards against the Eagles or lead the comeback against the Falcons; he used his legs to keep drives alive.
In Super Bowl LII, he was 40 years old and still trying to lead the team in every way possible. While he didn't score a rushing TD in that specific game, his willingness to put his body on the line in short-yardage situations is why he has seven rings. Defenses had to respect the sneak, which opened up the play-action pass.
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What We Can Learn From Brady’s Mobility
Most people think mobility means "speed." Brady proved it actually means "maneuverability."
He wasn't going to outrun a linebacker in a footrace. But he could move six inches in the pocket to avoid a sack, or dive three feet to get a first down. That is mobility in its purest form. It’s the ability to get to the spot you need to be in to win the play.
Actionable Insights for Football Fans and Players:
- Don't ignore the basics: The QB sneak is the highest-percentage play in football if done correctly.
- Study the A-gap: Success on the ground for a QB starts with the relationship with the Center.
- Longevity over Flash: Brady’s rushing stats grew because he stayed healthy. Sliding and knowing when to go down is a skill.
If you’re looking to settle a bar bet, just remember the number 35. That’s the total number of times the least-athletic-looking GOAT found the end zone with his feet across the regular season and playoffs. It wasn't always pretty, but it was always effective.
Next Steps for the Stat-Obsessed:
Compare Brady's rushing TD frequency to modern "running" QBs in their first five seasons. You might be surprised at how close the "per game" touchdown numbers are when you look specifically at goal-line situations. Brady was a goal-line back in a GOAT's clothing.