Tom Brady became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw 600 career touchdowns on Sunday, but what he might remember most from the game is the impact he had on a young fan. Noah Reed, a nine-year-old Buccaneers fan, held up a sign at Raymond James that read “Tom Brady helped me beat brain cancer.”
Brady noticed the sign at the end of the fourth quarter and ran up to Noah to hand him his Crucial Catch hat. Noah got emotional, bursting into tears over the exchange with the seven-time Super Bowl champion.
The fan from Utah was diagnosed with a brain tumor after suffering from headaches and in July he completed a six-month treatment plan. Noah will be under observation until he is 18 to make sure the cancer does not return.
Noah’s mother Jacque commented on her son’s first ever NFL game and thanked Brady “from the bottom of my mama heart.” Here’s what she wrote on her husband James’ Instagram story:
“@tombrady This kid fought and fought with a dream that one day he could watch you play in real life. You gave him strength and hope and a dream. You are not just the greatest athlete of all time, you are truly a good man. An exceptional father. A remarkable example. And you have just changed my boy’s life. Thank you from the bottom of my mama heart.”
After the game, Brady was asked about his interaction with the young fan.
“That was really sweet. Obviously a tough kid man. Puts a lot in perspective of what we’re doing on the field. In the end it doesn’t mean much compared to what so many people go through, so we all try to make a difference in different ways,” he said. “And I think so many guys commit times to their foundations and to doing good things for the world and the NFL does a lot of great things. I always think so the best you can do, ya know? Under any circumstance so that was nice to see.”
When Noah and his dad got home, James uploaded a video of the sweet moment, saying, “Noah’s first NFL game. A dream come true. Still hard to believe.”
