New York, NY -- New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has been named Sports Illustrated's 2005 Sportsman of the Year.

The annual award is presented for character and performance in the ideals of sportsmanship.

Brady guided the Patriots to Super Bowl wins in three of the last four seasons and earned MVP honors in the big game twice. Brady is just the fourth quarterback in NFL history to lead his team to three or more Super Bowl titles.

In 12 games for the 7-5 Patriots this season, Brady has thrown for 3,301 yards and 18 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. New England is in first place in the AFC East -- two games ahead of the Miami Dolphins.

Last year, the Boston Red Sox captured the SI honor and ended an 86-year-old "curse" by winning the World Series in a four-game sweep of St. Louis.

Boston has been represented with consecutive Sports Illustrated Sportsman awards for the first time since Carl Yastrzemski of the Red Sox and Bill Russell of the Celtics won the honor in 1967 and 1968.

San Francisco 49ers legendary quarterback Joe Montana was the last NFL player to win the award (1990).