The United States track and field team that is getting ready to compete at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics could have a very familiar name among its ranks: Tom Brady from the University of Michigan. But, no, it is not the world famous former quarterback.
This Tom Brady is a runner who will try to make the Olympic team in the 5,000 meters, with opening heats in the qualifying event beginning on Thursday. The trials continue through Sunday in Oregon, with the 2024 Summer Olympics to hold its opening ceremonies next month and run into August.
Despite their shared name and college allegiance, the younger athlete is not a fan of the New England Patriots nor Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the two teams the NFL superstar played for during his legendary career. The Olympic hopeful said he is a longtime fan of the Chicago Bears.
“Growing up in Chicago, for some reason there’s some kind of rivalry with Tom Brady there,” this Brady said. “I don’t know why but I think it’s because he destroys us every time we play him. Except for the last time, that was a good time.”
He was speaking of the Bears’ 20-19 victory against the Buccaneers during the 2020 NFL season, Brady’s first with Tampa Bay. Later that season, the Bucs went on to win the Super Bowl with a victory against the Kansas City Chiefs, giving Brady his seventh championship ring after winning his first six with the Patriots.
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From the @NCAA: https://t.co/3qUXSKo0Jk#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/j4AkAQNgOW
— Michigan Track & Field / Cross Country (@UMichTrack) February 4, 2021
Though born in 2000, the year the quarterback Brady made his NFL debut, the track athlete Brady is not named after him. His full name is Thomas Declan Brady, a family moniker that dates to his late-great grandfather, late-grandfather, father and now to him.
Brady the quarterback wrapped up his playing career in the 2022 NFL season with the Bucs and is about to begin a much-anticipated broadcasting career with Fox this coming season. He is replacing Greg Olsen as a top analyst on the network’s team.
The upcoming Olympic Games will likely dominate the attention of the sports world at the same time NFL training camps start to heat up in preparation for what should be a very entertaining 2024 season.
The Olympics will hold its closing ceremony on Aug. 11, with the NFL regular season set to begin on Sept. 5 with a game between the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
