It's been more than 20 years since Tom Brady launched an NFL career worthy of every award and acclaim imaginable. Along the way, he has also become the league's first global superstar. Like Babe Ruth and Michael Jordan before him, Brady has helped to elevate a sport that was mostly confined to North America and managed to spread its popularity to unexpected places.
Brady is the the first true ambassador of a league intent on global relevance. Trips to Brazil, Japan, Ghana and other spots have brought adoring fans from out of the woodwork. During a 2017 trip to China, throngs of photographers lined up to catch him tossing a football while standing on the Great Wall.