In the long history of professional team sports, only 24 athletes have had the opportunity to take part in 10 matches or championship finals in their league. Buccaneers quarterback and former Patriots Tom Brady will be added to that illustrious list tomorrow and will become the first football player since Otto Graham to achieve the feat.
Some would even say that Brady was the first in NFL history to pull off this big deal, but there is a significant debate there about.
Former Cleveland Browns legend in the 1940s and 1950s quarterback Otto Graham had played in 10 consecutive championship games from 1946 to 1955 before his retirement at 34.
This means that every year in his 10-year career, he has been the ultimate match. The NFL does not recognize this mark, however, since the first four championships occurred in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC).
Three teams from that late league then joined the NFL, including the Browns, who continued their momentum with six more straight appearances in the Championship game. Graham was 4-0 in the AAFC Finals and 3-3 in the NFL after that.
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For comparison, Graham won his first four titles in an eight-team circuit, while his other championship games took place in the then NFL, which was home to 12 clubs. Brady works in a 32-club circuit (31 in 2000 and 2001 when he debuted).
In short, whether Graham’s exploits are officially recognized by the NFL or not, Brady is now joining him in football legend. For his part, the 43-year-old quarterback is 6-3 in the Super Bowl.
Henri Richard and the others
In the NHL, 13 players have lived at least 10 Stanley Cup finals and the former glory of Canadian Henri Richard is the last to accomplish the feat. At the end of the 1972-1973 season, he lifted his 11th cup, a record that still stands. Other former Habs like Jean Béliveau, Yvan Cournoyer, Claude Provost and Maurice Richard took part in at least 10 finals.
Former Maple Leafs and Red Wings glory Red Kelly, meanwhile, made 12 finals, winning the Cup eight times in the process.
Again, without taking anything away from all these legendary hockey players, the fact remains that their feats of arms were achieved when the NHL brought together 6 to 16 teams at most, depending on the year.
Twice in 30 years
Taking part in 10 league games or finals has become a rare occurrence these days. In football, this hasn’t happened for 65 years. In hockey, no one has done it since the “Pocket Rocket” 47 years ago.
In major league baseball, only six players in history have competed in the World Series on at least 10 occasions. The record belongs to Yogi Berra with 14 appearances. Former Yankees and Red Sox Elston Howard was the most recent player to appear in the World Series 10 times. We have to go back to 1967 for his last presence. 53 years ago.
Brady therefore finds himself almost alone in the current era of professional sports. In fact, in the past 30 years, only he and LeBron James have lived in the Championship game or the final 10 times. In his 10 appearances, James has collected four titles.
The NBA star reached the final with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers. Only four players in NBA history have taken part in at least 10 finals.
Whether he wins or loses to the Chiefs, Tom Brady has already cemented his place among the greats of the sports world.
PLAYERS WITH THE MOST TITLES (NFL)
- 6 Tom Brady (Patriots)
- 6* Fuzzy Thurston (Colts, Packers)
- 6* Forrest Gregg (Packers et Cowboys)
- 6* Herb Adderley (Packers et Cowboys)
- 13 other players with 5 championships, only one with five Super Bowl rings (Charles Haley with the 49ers and Cowboys)
* Including championships before the Super Bowl
** Otto Graham won 7 championships, but 3 in the NFL
PLAYERS WITH THE MOST TITLES (NHL)
- 11 Henri Richard (Canadian)
- 10 Jean Beliveau (Canadian)
- 10 Yvan Cournoyer (Canadian)
- 9 Claude Provost (Canadian)
- 8 Maurice Richard (Canadian)
- 8 Jacques Lemaire (Canadian)
- 8 Serge Savard (Canadian)
- 8 Red Kelly (Red Wings, Maple Leafs)
PLAYERS WITH THE MOST TITLES (MLB)
- 10 Yogi Berra (Yankees)
- 9 Joe DiMaggio (Yankees)
- 8 Phil Rizzuto (Yankees)
- 8 Frankie Crosetti (Yankees)
- 8 Bill Dickey (Yankees)
- 8 Lou Gehrig (Yankees)
PLAYERS WITH THE MOST TITLES (NBA)
- 11 Bill Russell (Celtics)
- 10 Sam Jones (Celtics)
- 8 Tom Heinsohn (Celtics)
- 8 K.C. Jones (Celtics)
- 8 Tom Sanders (Celtics)
- 8 John Havlicek (Celtics)
