Super Bowl XXXVI (2002): Tom Brady’s First Championship and the Kick That Launched a Dynasty

Ramjack Media

03 February 2026

On February 3, 2002, Tom Brady captured his first Super Bowl title in one of the most dramatic finishes in NFL history. In Super Bowl XXXVI, the underdog New England Patriots stunned the heavily favored St. Louis Rams 20–17 when Adam Vinatieri drilled a 48-yard field goal as time expired inside the Louisiana Superdome. Brady led a calm, clutch final drive that set up the game-winning kick and earned him Super Bowl MVP honors. In this episode of Sports History Daily, we break down the upset victory, Brady’s rise to superstardom, Vinatieri’s iconic moment, and how this game marked the beginning of the Patriots dynasty that would dominate the NFL for decades.