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This Drill Helped Transform Tom Brady Into a Super Bowl Champion

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Angelo Guinhawa | Last updated Aug 22, 2025 10:11 PM ET

New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers icon Tom Brady was drafted 199th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft, but that didn't prevent him from becoming one of the greatest quarterbacks in league history — if not the best.

Brady didn't become a seven-time Super Bowl champion and three-time NFL MVP due to sheer luck or talent alone, though. It was a result of his efforts and the work ethic he developed early in his career.

Tom Brady Reveals Drill That Taught Him a Lot

In the latest drop of his 199 newsletter, Brady talked about how he was "never the greatest athlete in terms of speed or straigh t line quickness." However, he recognized his weakness early on, which forced him to "work harder in all aspects of the game."

That included his foot speed, which he improved through a footwork exercise called "dot drills." According to Brady, the drill is "designed to increase agility and quickness."

"A lot of football players did them, and I could see their benefit, so I spray-painted the dots on the concrete in my backyard, and I went out every morning at 6am, right after I woke up, and I did those dot drills sometimes for 20 minutes straight," Brady stated.

Interestingly, TB12 shared that doing the drill taught him two things. First, it showed him "there’s more than one way to be elusive," noting that "we can’t all be Mike Vick or Patrick Mahomes."

"With great, nimble footwork, you can also be elusive in a confined space. For a very slow-footed high school quarterback, in the NFL I became known for my speed, qu ickness and agility in the pocket," the 15-time Pro Bowler added.

Second, it helped him "develop an even better work ethic," which allowed him to succeed in the pros.

"You’ll be surprised, when you think you’re only working on a weakness, you’re often also enhancing a strength," Brady explained.

"Speaking of paying dividends, it’s one thing to reap the rewards of turning a weakness into a strength, but when you apply the same level of rigor and effort and intensity to improving a strength, that’s when it becomes a superpower. That’s when you go from good to great to champion."

Brady's Success Continues Off the Field

Sure enough, that work ethic that Brady developed in his playing career is now helping him succeed following his retirement in 2022.

Not only was he able to land a 10-year, $375 million broadcasting contract with Fox Sports, but he has also become an NFL team owner after purchasing a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders.

More recently, Brady's sports card and memorabilia business called "CardVault by Tom Brady" has gone through a rapid expansion. Over the past five months, the store has opened three new locations in Chicago, New Jersey and New York.

Indeed, Brady is a great example of how hard work and a strong work ethic pay off.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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