Tom Brady made history when he took the field for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL Kickoff Game, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to start 300 regular-season games. Brady, entering his 22rd season, has started 299 regular-season games and 45 postseason contests entering Thursday’s season opener, making 344 starts over his Hall of Fame career.
With Brady making his 300th career start, he is the first player to make that many starts in a career — no matter the position. Brady surpassed Brett Favre (298) when he started for the Buccaneers in Week 17 of last season to hold the all-time mark. Bruce Matthews started 293 games (third all time) while Drew Brees started 286 (fourth) and Jerry Rice had 284 starts (fifth).
Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe.
Thanks for signing up!
Keep an eye on your inbox.
Sorry!
There was an error processing your subscription.
As for career games played, Brady still has a ways to go. Brady will enter the top 10 on the all-time list in games played in Week 1 with 302, tying Favre and John Carney for ninth. If Brady plays all 17 games in the regular season, he’ll be seventh all time with 318 games played — passing Phil Dawson (305), Jerry Rice (303), Carney and Favre. Morten Andersen has played the most NFL games in history with 382, so Brady still has to play at least five more years for that mark.
Brady also matches Favre in the opener for most career games played by a quarterback. Favre has played 302 games in his career, the most in NFL history. Brady matched Favre at 302 by taking just one snap in Week 1. He can pass Favre for the all-time mark next week.
Among active players, Ben Roethlisberger is second with 231 starts — good for 28th all time. Brady’s record is secure for a while.
