Tom Brady cites Michael Jordan as inspiration for greatness

The greatest quarterback to ever play the game is unsurprisingly a big fan of the greatest basketball player to ever play the game.

In an interview with ESPN, Tom Brady commented on his pursuit of Michael Jordan, whom writer Ian O'Connor called "the presumed greatest American team-sport athlete ever" - a title Brady could be approaching.

"I was in awe of Michael Jordan," Brady said, "and I still am in awe of what he was and what he meant. ... He was such an effortless player. He put a lot of effort in, but there's an art and a beauty to the way he played the game. That was a very inspiring thing."

Brady also reiterated that he plans to play for several more seasons.

"I always said my mid-40s," he said, "and naturally that means around 45. If I get there and I still feel like I do today, I don't see why I wouldn't want to continue."

Another half-decade of play would give Brady - who's won five Super Bowls - plenty of time to not only match Jordan's six rings, but surpass them.