Tom Brady once lost an impressive consecutive games streak to an injury. He’ll now lose a similarly impressive streak to a suspension.
Brady became the Patriots’ starting quarterback in Week Three of the 2001 season and started every game until suffering a torn ACL in Week One of the 2008 season, a streak of 111 consecutive regular-season starts, and 128 straight games counting the playoffs. He then returned in 2009 and started every game through the end of last season, a streak of 112 consecutive regular season games, and 126 consecutive games counting the playoffs.
But Brady has decided to stop fighting the four-game suspension imposed on him for Deflategate, and as a result his streak will come to an end when he misses the Patriots’ season opener against the Cardinals.
Brady has two of the seven longest consecutive games streaks for a quarterback in NFL history. Here’s the full list of quarterbacks who have started at least 100 games in a row, counting the playoffs:
321: Brett Favre, 1992-2010.
227: Peyton Manning, 1998-2011.
194: Eli Manning, 2004-2016 (active).
169: Philip Rivers, 2006-2016 (active).
137: Joe Flacco, 2008-2015.
128: Tom Brady, 2001-2008.
126: Tom Brady, 2009-2016.
123: Ron Jaworski, 1977-1984.
110: Joe Ferguson, 1977-1984.
103: Matt Ryan, 2009-2016 (active).
The order of the Top 8 consecutive games streaks won’t change this year, although Ryan can move up to No. 9 this season and will move ahead of both of Brady’s streaks if he plays every game for the next two years. Eli could pass his big brother late in the 2017 season if he plays every game and the Giants play at least two playoff games; if the Giants don’t make the playoffs, Eli can pass Peyton early in 2018.
Favre’s record is safe for a long time; Eli would have to play every game until 2023, when he’ll be 42, to pass Favre.