Tom Brady ends his inimitable career after 23 years in the NFL and seven Super Bowl victories. Legend Lawrence Taylor still sees Joe Montana ahead in the GOAT debate among quarterbacks

Is Tom Brady the best NFL player in history? After his second and this time apparently final retirement, the GOAT debate is once again omnipresent a few days before the Super Bowl.

While in circles of fans and ex-players the name of the 45-year-old as the greatest player ever is increasingly being mentioned, there is actually no reason at all for NFL legend Lawrence Taylor to discuss the matter.

“TB12” is far from number one for the former star linebacker of the New York Giants: “Joe Montana is still my favourite. When you talk about the best quarterback of all time, I’m still with Montana. I’m not going with Tom Brady,” Taylor explained on the “I Am Athlete” podcast.

And “LT” also found sound reasoning for his choice. Brady had simply benefited massively over the years from NFL rule changes to protect the quarterback: “Hear me out, Tom Brady had all the rules on his side. You can’t touch him. If you tackle him, no, if you just breathe on him, the refs will throw a flag. “

Tom Brady as GOAT? Lawrence Taylor waves it off for rules advantage

Once he got going, Taylor then really got going in the debate, clarifying his lack of understanding of the defenses’ actions per se against “TB12” in addition to the rules advantages: “I don’t understand how he drops back eight yards and sits in a little cocoon, but they don’t put players on him. Why aren’t the defenses sending guys?”

For Taylor, he said, football before Brady’s time was simply different and just significantly tougher on quarterbacks. “Let me tell you guys something. When I play, I catch him on every play. Even if I just had to give him a pat on the butt, I’d be right by your side, bro.”

Taylor’s favourite, Montana, is considered one of the best playmakers in history. He has four Super Bowl rings, three Super Bowl MVPs and two MVP awards to show for his trophy cabinet. Montana’s 40,551 passing yards rank 22nd in history, while his 273 touchdown passes thrown make it to 19th in the history books.

Still, it’s hard to top Brady’s achievements. In his 23-year career, he has won seven Super Bowls rings, been named Super Bowl MVP five times and has three MVP awards. He also holds NFL records for passing yards (89,214) and touchdowns (649).