2000 Pacific Tom Brady #403

How I Arrived at the Hobby Score

The 2000 Pacific Tom Brady #403 Rookie Card comes from a brand that was a bit of an outlier in the football card world. Pacific was known for experimenting with different designs and sets, including the Omega and Revolution lines, but never quite reached the popularity of Topps or Upper Deck. This card stands out because it features Brady in his Michigan uniform, making it one of the few rookie cards to show him before his Patriots days.

During his time at Michigan, Brady had to fight for every snap. He famously split time with Drew Henson and was even seventh on the depth chart at one point. Brady kept a list of every quarterback ranked ahead of him and used it as motivation. That underdog mentality followed him into the NFL and is part of what makes his story so unique. The Pacific rookie is a reminder of those college battles and the long road Brady took before anyone knew what was coming.