The two-time Super Bowl MVP won the award for the first time after throwing an NFL-record 50 touchdown passes, surpassing Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning's record of 49, and leading the Patriots to the first 16-0 regular season in league history.
Augmented by the addition of wide receivers Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Donté Stallworth, Brady silenced critics who said he wasn't capable of putting up prolific numbers like his Indianapolis counterpart, a two-time MVP, and guided an offense that helped set NFL records for points in a season (589) and touchdowns (75).
Brady, 30, had the best season of his eight-year career, leading the league in touchdown passes, passing yards (4,806, the third-highest total in NFL history), completion percentage (68.9), and passer rating (117.2).
"Tom is an amazing player. Every year I have been here, he has always been the MVP in my eyes, hands down," said defensive end Ty Warren. "He is going to be remembered as one of the best that ever played in this league, and he has definitely put on a clinic this year with the guys that he has had around him. He deserves it, and I am happy for him."
Brady established an instant rapport with Moss. The two connected an NFL-record 23 times for TDs. Brady broke Manning's mark last Saturday with a 65-yard touchdown pass to Moss that erased a 28-23 fourth-quarter deficit and propelled the Patriots to a 38-35 victory over the New York Giants that completed a perfect regular season, the first since the 1972 Miami Dolphins.
"He's Tom Brady. He's a fierce competitor, and as long as we have time on the clock, he feels like we have a chance to win and everybody around him feels that same way," said wide receiver Jabar Gaffney. "We know that some way he's going to get the job done."
