--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd never imagined I had the opportunity…" description: "\"I'd never imagined I had the opportunity to play with Tom Brady, the greatest athlete in sports history.\" — Mike Evans" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/mike-evans-5010_athlete_i-d-never-imagined-i-had-the-opportunity_496140.png" --- # I'd never imagined I had the opportunity to play with Tom… ![“I'd never imagined I had the opportunity to play with Tom Brady, the greatest athlete in sports history.” quote by Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/mike-evans-5010_athlete_i-d-never-imagined-i-had-the-opportunity_496140.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/mike-evans-5010_athlete_i-d-never-imagined-i-had-the-opportunity_496140.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/mike-evans-5010_athlete_i-d-never-imagined-i-had-the-opportunity_496140.png) > “I'd never imagined I had the opportunity to play with Tom Brady, the greatest athlete in sports history.” [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Playing with Tom Brady was an unexpected, thrilling opportunity for a young athlete. **In simple terms:** He was surprised and honored to play with a legendary player. Key Takeaway Cherish rare chances and learn from the best. Themes sports humility career milestones Mood proud inspired Type personal sports When to use this quote - team practice - career reflection - media interview Key Concepts role models learning experiences Questions to Reflect On - How did this experience shape your goals? - What did you learn from playing with a legend? A Different Perspective Such moments can create unrealistic expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) [Greatest athlete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-athlete/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [I think Tom Brady is one of the greatest competitors of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrann-mathieu/i-think-tom-brady-is-one-of-the-greatest-competitors-of-all-time/) [Tyrann Mathieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrann-mathieu/) > [I got to play with Tom Brady, so that was pretty cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/i-got-to-play-with-tom-brady-so-that-was-pretty-cool/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [Yeah, I think Tom Brady's the greatest quarterback to ever play in the NFL. So, to follow up on him, it's just trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-jones/yeah-i-think-tom-brady-s-the-greatest-quarterback-to-ever-play-in-the/) [Mac Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-jones/) > [We're not all like Tom Brady, who just keeps winning Super Bowls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gonzalez/we-re-not-all-like-tom-brady-who-just-keeps-winning-super-bowls/) [Tony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gonzalez/) > [My inspiration on the field is Tom Brady. My inspiration off the field is Gronk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-amendola/my-inspiration-on-the-field-is-tom-brady-my-inspiration-off-the-field/) [Danny Amendola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-amendola/) > [Tom Brady. He is good looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-suggs/tom-brady-he-is-good-looking/) [Terrell Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-suggs/) > [Tom Brady is fun and happy. Boston is cranky and intense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-cowherd/tom-brady-is-fun-and-happy-boston-is-cranky-and-intense/) [Colin Cowherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-cowherd/) > [I'm not trying to be Tom Brady. I'm just trying to be Matt Cassel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cassel/i-m-not-trying-to-be-tom-brady-i-m-just-trying-to-be-matt-cassel/) [Matt Cassel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cassel/) > [A confident Tom Brady is something to be scared of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-bettis/a-confident-tom-brady-is-something-to-be-scared-of/) [Jerome Bettis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-bettis/) > [When I talk football with my friends, I don't talk about Tom Brady's hair. I talk about how he handles the blitz, or how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indra-nooyi/when-i-talk-football-with-my-friends-i-don-t-talk-about-tom-brady-s/) [Indra Nooyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indra-nooyi/) > [Tom Brady should be a heartbeat away from the presidency, and that heartbeat should be mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vermin-supreme/tom-brady-should-be-a-heartbeat-away-from-the-presidency-and-that/) [Vermin Supreme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vermin-supreme/) > [I have all the respect in the world for the Patriots, and I respect Tom Brady tremendously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarvis-landry/i-have-all-the-respect-in-the-world-for-the-patriots-and-i-respect/) [Jarvis Landry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarvis-landry/) > [Tom Brady is my favorite athlete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-plum/tom-brady-is-my-favorite-athlete/) [Kelsey Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-plum/) > [I'm not gonna lie, I'm a huge Patriots fan, so I like Tom Brady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rj-barrett/i-m-not-gonna-lie-i-m-a-huge-patriots-fan-so-i-like-tom-brady/) [RJ Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rj-barrett/) > [I don't mind sitting behind Tom Brady. That is the GOAT himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-jackson/i-don-t-mind-sitting-behind-tom-brady-that-is-the-goat-himself/) [Lamar Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-jackson/) ## More by Mike Evans > [I want to play. I want to help my team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/i-want-to-play-i-want-to-help-my-team/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [When I'm with my wife, we go on dates and things like that, take our girls out to do stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/when-i-m-with-my-wife-we-go-on-dates-and-things-like-that-take-our/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [That's how it was for me in college as well - guys were seniors and I was a redshirt freshman and I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/that-s-how-it-was-for-me-in-college-as-well-guys-were-seniors-and-i/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [I'm a big Harry Potter guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/i-m-a-big-harry-potter-guy/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [It's not how you start, even with a rough upbringing. It's what you make of it after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/it-s-not-how-you-start-even-with-a-rough-upbringing-it-s-what-you/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [I've been very blessed and highly favored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/i-ve-been-very-blessed-and-highly-favored/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [I'm getting older, more mature, and the game is slowing down each year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/i-m-getting-older-more-mature-and-the-game-is-slowing-down-each-year/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [I never could be a diva. I don't know if it's because of my size or how I was raised. Because more of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/i-never-could-be-a-diva-i-don-t-know-if-it-s-because-of-my-size-or/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [I really don't care about stats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/i-really-don-t-care-about-stats/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [Not everybody grows up the same. Everybody is exposed to different things growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/not-everybody-grows-up-the-same-everybody-is-exposed-to-different/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [You know, I'm not just a jump ball guy. I'm good at jump balls. I'm really good at jump balls. I wish I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/you-know-i-m-not-just-a-jump-ball-guy-i-m-good-at-jump-balls-i-m/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [I get letters from are appreciative of even smaller scholarships that I've given in the past. The ones I give bigger scholarships too, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/i-get-letters-from-are-appreciative-of-even-smaller-scholarships-that/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [Being nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the Year is overwhelming - it's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/being-nominated-for-the-walter-payton-man-of-the-year-is-overwhelming/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [You know, the thing about the great receivers? They won. They were in the playoffs. They were making big plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/you-know-the-thing-about-the-great-receivers-they-won-they-were-in/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) > [I'm effective against a lot of teams, especially when you play man coverage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/i-m-effective-against-a-lot-of-teams-especially-when-you-play-man/) [Mike Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) [Explore all 104 Mike Evans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/) ## More Athlete quotes > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [I'd noticed him watching me for a year or so, especially when we'd play games where there was running or jumping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/i-d-noticed-him-watching-me-for-a-year-or-so-especially-when-we-d/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I think cricket is there in Usain Bolt's blood. Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [I think what bothers us about fighting sports isn't the damage to the athlete but the fact that you win by doing more harm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-gottschall/i-think-what-bothers-us-about-fighting-sports-isn-t-the-damage-to-the/) [Jonathan Gottschall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-gottschall/) > [Athletes at all ages are bigger and stronger than ever before. And they are being encouraged - sometimes even incentivized, as we recently learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/athletes-at-all-ages-are-bigger-and-stronger-than-ever-before-and/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [I think life is full of challenges and problems. I don't believe that anyone is perfect. We all make mistakes. It's not a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-mansell/i-think-life-is-full-of-challenges-and-problems-i-don-t-believe-that/) [Nigel Mansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-mansell/) > [I'd never been much of an athlete, due to a physical condition I'd had since birth (unathleticism). Perhaps if there were a sport centered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-d-never-been-much-of-an-athlete-due-to-a-physical-condition-i-d-had/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-didn-t-set-out-to-be-the-first-openly-gay-athlete-playing-in-a/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) > [I like to push characters to extremes so they have to make really tough decisions and there is no life more extreme than that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-like-to-push-characters-to-extremes-so-they-have-to-make-really/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [I don't want to say names, but there are certain companies I won't work with because of previous people they've worked with. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-morgan/i-don-t-want-to-say-names-but-there-are-certain-companies-i-won-t/) [Alex Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-morgan/) > [We are like highly trained athletes, who never run a race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/we-are-like-highly-trained-athletes-who-never-run-a-race/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-riley/there-are-only-two-options-regarding-commitment-you-re-either-in-or/) [Pat Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-riley/) > [I didn't aspire to be a good sport; 'champion' was good enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-perry/i-didn-t-aspire-to-be-a-good-sport-champion-was-good-enough-for-me/) [Fred Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-perry/) > [Treat yourself like an overweight, out of shape person and that's what you will be. Why not train and treat yourself like an athlete?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chalene-johnson/treat-yourself-like-an-overweight-out-of-shape-person-and-that-s-what/) [Chalene Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chalene-johnson/) [Browse all 2,455 Athlete quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/athlete/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'd never imagined I had the opportunity to play with Tom Brady, the greatest athlete in sports history.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mike Evans" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/i-d-never-imagined-i-had-the-opportunity-to-play-with-tom-brady-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Athlete" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/i-d-never-imagined-i-had-the-opportunity-to-play-with-tom-brady-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/mike-evans-5010_athlete_i-d-never-imagined-i-had-the-opportunity_496140.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/mike-evans-5010_athlete_i-d-never-imagined-i-had-the-opportunity_496140.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e8/mike-evans-5010_athlete_i-d-never-imagined-i-had-the-opportunity_496140.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'd never imagined I had the opportunity to play with Tom Brady, the greatest athlete in sports history.” — Mike Evans", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mike Evans", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-evans/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'd never imagined I had the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/i-d-never-imagined-i-had-the-opportunity-to-play-with-tom-brady-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-evans/i-d-never-imagined-i-had-the-opportunity-to-play-with-tom-brady-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```