Tom Brandstater
A strong-armed quarterback whose professional journey was a testament to perseverance, navigating the demanding periphery of the NFL.
Born 1984 (age 42)·American football player·Birthday: October 21·Millennials
Biography
Tom Brandstater's football story is one of preparation meeting opportunity, often in fleeting moments. At Fresno State, he developed into a formidable starter, his arm strength and pocket presence catching the eyes of scouts. Drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2009, he entered a league where quarterback jobs are precious and tenuous. His career became a tour of practice squads and preseason rosters—with the Indianapolis Colts, St. Louis Rams, and Arizona Cardinals—where his value was as a diligent preparer and a reliable arm in training camps. While he never took a regular-season NFL snap, his path underscores the reality for many talented players: a career spent in the high-stakes shadows, always ready for a call that might not come, yet essential to the ecosystem of the sport.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Tom was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Tom Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Tom's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Passed for over 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns during his starting tenure at Fresno State University.
- Selected by the Denver Broncos in the 6th round (174th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft.
- Spent time on the active rosters or practice squads of five different NFL teams over four seasons.
Did You Know?
He was a three-sport star in high school, also playing basketball and baseball.
Brandstater majored in business marketing at Fresno State.
He was a teammate of quarterback Tim Tebow on the Denver Broncos during the 2010 preseason.
“You have to be ready when your number is called, because it might only be called once.”
