While every sport has its legends, usually only one earns the title of the greatest of all time. In basketball, the GOAT is Michael Jordan. In soccer, Lionel Messi. In boxing, Muhammad Ali. And on the golf course, Tiger Woods. On the gridiron, Tom Brady personifies greatness.
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But when the conversation shifts to the Pantheon of North American sports, the stakes get higher for the candidates are aplenty. This is where the concept of a ‘Mount Rushmore’ of athletes comes in — four individuals from any sport who stand above the rest in terms of talent, impact, and legacy.
So when someone asked Brady to name his Mount Rushmore, the seven-time Super Bowl champion took a different route. Instead of limiting himself to just four, Brady offered a broader, more inclusive list of athletes he believes are deserving of a place on sports’ most elite pedestal. And still there were glaring omissions.
No surprises which name Brady picked first — his childhood idol Jordan. Brady grew up watching the Chicago Bulls legend dominate the NBA, achieving greatness under pressure. Another basketball icon was present on his list. No, not LeBron James.
The Black Mamba himself — whose relentless mentality left a lasting impression on Brady — was the other NBA star on Brady’s Mount Rushmore. “Michael Jordan was my childhood idol. He was unbelievable. Obviously, I loved Kobe Bryant, still love Kobe Bryant,” he said.
When it came to golf, Woods was the obvious choice. His dominance, mental toughness, and global appeal made him a no-brainer for Brady. He also included Rory McIlroy, acknowledging the Northern Irishman’s achievements at a relatively young age.
From baseball, Brady added Shohei Ohtani, calling the two-way Dodgers star a once-in-a-century talent, much like Babe Ruth. Another controversial but undeniably great figure made the list: Barry Bonds. Not only does Bonds hold the all-time home run record, but he also shares an alma mater — Junipero Serra High School — with the NFL legend.
Brady didn’t forget the Olympics either. He made sure to name Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time. He also gave a nod to Michael Johnson, the legendary sprinter who redefined speed on the track.
Expanding his Rushmore to include women superstars, Brady named A’ja Wilson, the face of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, a team Brady now partially owns. And recognizing a new era of fierce talent and rivalry, he also added Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, two college basketball sensations who have become WNBA stars in just a year at the pros, and are helping grow the women’s game.
Despite naming so many athletes instead of sticking to just four, TB12 still left off several legends who arguably deserved a spot over some of his more surprising picks. One glaring omission was Simone Biles, one of the most decorated gymnasts and Olympians of all time. He also bypassed LeBron, a name often placed alongside Jordan and Kobe in any basketball GOAT conversation.
Surprisingly, Brady didn’t name a single soccer player, even though he owns a stake in a soccer club. Messi, considered by many the greatest footballer in history, is a regular fixture on any global Mount Rushmore of athletes.
The tennis world also saw a snub: Roger Federer and Serena Williams, often hailed as the GOATs of men’s and women’s tennis, were both left out. Now, to be fair, omitting names like Messi and Federer is somewhat understandable. Like many American sports fans, Brady’s choices leaned heavily toward athletes who dominated North American sports.
But still, how do you leave out Wayne Gretzky, the Great One of hockey? Also, he didn’t touch the NFL.
Well, he couldn’t have named himself, but could have included Joe Montana — the man who dominated the sport before him. But who can blame him for missing a few names when there are so many to pick from?
And just to keep things light, Brady also forgot to mention Lightning McQueen, who won seven Piston Cups. Not for nothing.
