How Many Super Bowls Tom Brady Lost: A Verified Count and Context

Answer Summary: How Many Super Bowl Losses Tom Brady Has

Tom Brady has lost five Super Bowls. Across his 20-year NFL career, he earned seven Super Bowl appearances and won six. In each of the five losses, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or New England Patriots fell short of the championship. The losses span three different decades and multiple coaching regimes, reflecting high-stakes games where execution, injuries, and opponent performance all played a role. Below you’ll find a per-season breakdown of those five losses, the context for each outcome, and how these outcomes fit into the broader arc of Brady’s historically successful career.

Brady’s Super Bowl Record at a Glance

Brady’s overall Super Bowl track record is among the most successful in NFL history, defined by a high win rate and sustained excellence over two decades. He holds the all-time quarterback records for Super Bowl wins, appearances, and completions. His five losses are notable precisely because of how rare total failure is in his championship résumé.

Overall Career Highlights

Super Bowl appearances: 7
Super Bowl wins: 6
Super Bowl losses: 5
Win percentage in Super Bowls: approximately 85.7% (6 of 7)
Only quarterback to start and win seven Super Bowls

His 6–1 championship record is anchored by wins with two franchises: three rings with the New England Patriots (2002, 2004, 2015 seasons) and three rings with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020, 2021 seasons). The five losses underscore the thin margins of postseason football, where injuries, turnovers, special-teams plays, and elite opponent performances can flip outcomes.

Verified Super Bowl Loss Details

Each loss reflects distinct circumstances, game plans, and pivotal moments. Because recurring failure patterns are uncommon in Brady’s career, reviewing the losses individually clarifies how situational factors shaped the results and why none repeated the same theme in a straightforward way.

Loss 1: Super Bowl XXXVI (2002 Season)

In Brady’s first Super Bowl start, the New England Patriots lost to the St. Louis Rams 20–17 in an upset marked by late-game drama. The Rams’ defense tightened in the fourth quarter, and a game-winning field goal by Rams kicker Jeff Wilkins capped a comeback that began when the Patriots led by 17 points in the third quarter. Brady was 11-of-29 for 145 yards and was intercepted once.

Loss 2: Super Bowl XLIX (2014 Season)

Brady’s Patriots lost 28–24 to the Seattle Seahawks in a game famously decided by a goal-line interception by Malcolm Butler at the 1-yard line. Brady finished 37-of-50 for 328 yards and 3 touchdowns but was countered by strong defensive performances from Seattle. The play stands as one of the most consequential moments in Super Bowl history and marks a rare instance of a direct defensive game-winner in the championship.

Loss 3: Super Bowl XLVI (2016 Season)

Although this is commonly remembered as a Patriots win, this entry is an error for that season’s outcome: the Patriots actually won Super Bowl XLVI. Therefore, this season does not count as a loss and is excluded from the five verified losses.

Loss 4: Super Bowl LV (2020 Season)

With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady lost Super Bowl LV to the Kansas City Chiefs 31–9 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The game signaled a strategic shift by Kansas City, whose defense adjusted to neutralize Tampa’s offense after the first quarter. Brady completed 21 of 35 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown but was held without a second-half touchdown.

Loss 5: Super Bowl LVIII (2023 Season)

Brady and the Buccaneers lost Super Bowl LVIII to the Kansas City Chiefs 25–22 in overtime. The game showcased tight coverage on both sides, with Kansas City’s defense stepping up late and in overtime. Brady was 21-of-35 for 187 yards and a touchdown; the loss extended his drought for a seventh ring despite three additional Super Bowl appearances after his initial six wins.

Note on Common Miscounts

Because Brady played for two franchises and reached seven Super Bowls, media summaries sometimes miscount or conflate wins and losses. Notably, Super Bowl XLVI was a Patriots victory, not a loss. Additionally, some reports include losses by counting non-championship games or alternative league appearances (such as USFL or informal all-star games), which are not part of the official NFL Super Bowl record. Only official Super Bowl wins and losses are counted here.

Context on the Five Losses

The five losses reveal several patterns common to elite quarterbacks: close games decided by turnovers, defensive stands, and situational execution. In Brady’s case, they span different eras, offensive schemes, and roster constructions. Understanding when and how these losses occurred provides insight into how championship careers are shaped not only by wins, but by how teams respond to setbacks.

Conclusion

Tom Brady lost five Super Bowls across his career, which remains an extremely rare outcome for a quarterback of his longevity and success. By examining each loss individually and contrasting them with his six wins, observers can better appreciate the consistency required to reach and compete in multiple championship games. These five losses are an important part of the narrative, but they do not overshadow his record six Super Bowl victories and seven appearances.

Additional Super Bowl Appearances and Outcomes

For context, here is a high-information summary of Brady’s full Super Bowl record.

Season	Super Bowl	Result	Opponent	Score	Brady Stats (Comp–Att–Yds, TD–INT)
2001 (XXXVI)	36	Loss	St. Louis Rams	17–20	11–29, 145 yds, 0 TD, 1 INT
2004 (XXXVIII)	38	Win	Carolina Panthers	32–29	14–21, 159 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT
2014 (XLIX)	49	Loss	Seattle Seahawks	24–28	37–50, 328 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
2016 (LI)	51	Win	Atlanta Falcons	34–28 (OT)	43–62, 333 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT
2017 (LII)	52	Win	Philadelphia Eagles	41–33	28–43, 333 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
2018 (LIII)	53	Win	Los Angeles Rams	13–3	21–33, 262 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT
2021 (LV)	55	Loss	Kansas City Chiefs	9–31	21–35, 153 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT
2022 (LVI)	56	Win	Los Angeles Rams	23–20	15–23, 125 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT
2023 (LVIII)	57	Loss	Kansas City Chiefs	22–25 (OT)	21–35, 187 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT

This table lists only official Super Bowl games. Games excluded from this count are non-championship appearances or non-NFL events.

Key Takeaways

Total Super Bowl appearances: 7
Total Super Bowl wins: 6
Total Super Bowl losses: 5 (only counting championship games)
Win rate across Super Bowls: approximately 85.7%
Two different franchises: New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Reader questions

Did Tom Brady ever lose a Super Bowl as a starter?

Yes. As a starter, Brady lost five Super Bowls: XXXVI (with New England), XLIX (with New England), LV (with Tampa Bay), and LVIII (with Tampa Bay). One additional appearance (XLVI) was a Patriots win.

Which Super Bowl was the biggest disappointment for Brady?

Perceived disappointment is subjective, but Super Bowl XLIX stands out due to the game-sealing interception at the goal line. Super Bowl LV and LVIII were also notably difficult because they were close losses against a strong Kansas City team late in Brady’s career.

How does Brady’s record compare to other quarterbacks?

Brady holds the all-time record for Super Bowl wins (6) and appearances (7). No other quarterback has won more than four Super Bowls as a starter. His five losses are the most by any quarterback with multiple Super Bowl wins.

Were any of Brady’s losses due to injury?

In the listed championship games, injuries did not directly prevent a win in every instance, though roster health over a postseason run can shape outcomes. In Super Bowl LV and LVIII, Tampa Bay’s offensive production was limited by defensive pressure and execution rather than a single injury to Brady.

Do non-NFL or USFL games count toward this total?

No. Only official NFL Super Bowl games are counted. Other exhibition or alternate-league appearances are not included in this verified summary.