Chris Simms recently sparked debate by calling Tom Brady the most overrated and most underrated quarterback in NFL history

Tom Brady's iconic career has solidified his place as one of the sport's all-time greats. Seven Super Bowl rings, several MVP awards, and a string of all-time records have made his presence in the NFL indelible. Yet, like any player of his caliber, opinions about his legacy are divided.
Former NFL quarterback and analyst Chris Simms recently set tongues wagging by labeling Brady "the most overrated and most underrated quarterback in NFL history." While discussing on NFL on NBC with Mike Florio, Simms broke down how the media's presentation of Brady has tended to obscure a fair evaluation of his greatness.

One of Chris Simms’ biggest criticisms is the excessive media frenzy surrounding Tom Brady throughout his career. He argued that, at times, the coverage bordered on mythology rather than analysis.
“It got a little crazy at the end because it was like, ‘We saw the way he looked over by the Gatorade bottle. We knew he was telling us, with a look in his eye, we’ve got to improve our play or else,’” Simms said. “I was like, oh my god, now he’s just looking at people and we’re making up fables about it for a story? That drove me crazy.”

This level of coverage, according to Simms, made it difficult for some fans to separate Brady’s actual performance from the narratives built around him.

Despite his criticism of the media hype, Chris Simms also acknowledged that Tom Brady’s pure football ability remains underrated. His physical attributes, leadership, and mental toughness—especially in the latter years of his career—set him apart.
“His ability on the football field is underrated, his arm is an all-time great arm. His toughness in the pocket, he showed that when he went to Tampa Bay,” Simms explained. “Everybody questioned whether he could do it without Belichick… He went there, first year, COVID year, they hosted the Super Bowl, he did that.”
Brady’s success with the Buccaneers silenced critics who believed his dominance was solely a product of Bill Belichick’s system. Winning a Super Bowl in his first season with a new team, in the midst of a pandemic, further cemented his reputation as the ultimate competitor.

Mike Florio took the discussion a step further, suggesting that Brady’s career could be split into three separate Hall of Fame-worthy segments. “You could make the argument that Tom Brady had not one, not two, but three separate Hall of Fame careers,” Florio said. “The early Patriots, the second three Super Bowl run for the Patriots, and then his time in Tampa Bay.”
Few athletes in any sport have sustained excellence across multiple decades, making Brady’s career even more remarkable.
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No matter where fans sit on the overrated vs. underrated side, there is one fact: Brady's name will reverberate in NFL lore for decades. His records, championships, and influence on the game put him on the same plane as legends Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. Some fans may anticipate the day his records are finally broken, but the truth is that Brady's legacy will continue to serve as a standard of greatness in the NFL.