Derek Jeter and Tom Brady have similar resumes with their respective teams but attitude should make Jeter stand out among the rest.

With all eyes on the 2017 Super Bowl this weekend, the talk surrounding Tom Brady has heated up. It’s been a while since he was talked about in a positive light and it certainly helps that the comparisons with New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter have begun.



Both Jeter and Brady have been the faces of their franchises in respective sports. One-team athletes, both of them have brought home championship trophies and incredible stats to boot. Combined they have nine rings, with possibly one more to add to the collection.

The New England Patriots and the Yankees would not have had that success without these two. They are both the heart and soul of their squads.

But that is where the comparisons must stop.

While Jeter and Brady have had similar careers, assuming they are the same based on athletic achievements is unfair to Jeter. While both have been in the spotlight for the entirety of their careers, Jeter’s motives were never questioned.

Why? Because he wasn’t just a great player, he was a role model. Being a great athlete is one thing, but Jeter carried himself in a way that demanded respect.

Not because he asked for it, but he proved that he deserved it.

Jan 22, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates after a touchdown by running back LeGarrette Blount (not pictured) the 2017 AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

Brady, unfortunately, hasn’t gotten that part down just yet. He still has some years left in him but he probably won’t be able to fix a reputation he has built for several years. He is outspoken on the field, constantly in the ears of the referees, his own players and his own coaches.

You never saw that from Derek Jeter. He remained a classy character both on and off the field and in today’s league, with so many missed calls, that’s a hard thing to do. Yet Jeter managed to do it.

Brady plays with a fire and intensity on the field. Jeter did the same but he never showed it the way Brady does — and he never let his emotions get the best of him.

People often compare Brady and Jeter because of the respect they have earned from fans. The issue is, Brady is adored by the masses in New England. However, the majority of people outside the Boston area despise him.



Is it because he’s talented? Sure, there might be a jealousy factor to it. However, most people dislike Brady because he exudes an arrogance and over-confidence to the world.

Whining to the refs after no-calls, yelling at his own teammates to step it up. He acts like a spoiled toddler and magically gets his way.

While Jeter is respected by the vast legions of Yankees fans, he also has garnered respect from practically every sports fan in the world. He earned that by playing the game the right way and being a quiet competitor. Basically, Jeter is the role model every parent wants for their kid.

Tom Brady, unfortunately, is not.

Brady has been in the spotlight for a long time but he’s also drawn negative attention to himself with his attitude and the over-discussed “incident” (I’m not going to even say it, but you know). He can hide behind his impressive stats all he wants but you simply cannot compare the attitudes of him and Jeter.

Derek Jeter and Tom Brady both boast impressive stats. They have both been considered some of the best to ever play their respective sports. They work hard and give their all on the field.

However, attitude is everything. And that’s why Derek Jeter deserves more than comparisons to the uncontrolled attitude of Tom Brady.


Allison is just a girl with an enormous passion for the game of baseball and the written word. Based in Upstate New York, her life-long relationship with the New York Yankees is something that she developed through close relationships with her mother and grandfather. An aspiring sports writer, she graduated with a journalism degree and is finding places to share her excitement about the sporting world and how it affects us all.