What happened: Sept. 30 marks 25 years since Tom Brady made his first NFL start on Sept. 30, 2001. New England defeated Indianapolis 44-13 that day for the first of his NFL-record 333 career starts.
Why it matters: Those 333 starts stand as the NFL record. Seven Super Bowl wins set the quarterback benchmark for longevity and titles.
By the numbers: First start: Sept. 30, 2001, Patriots 44, Colts 13; Career starts: 333, NFL record; Super Bowl wins: 7
What to watch: New England and Indianapolis continue the 2026 regular season into Week 5.