Tom Brady turned up the preparation during the playoffs and was even texting tips to teammates at all hours

• Tom Brady texted film and scouting tips to teammates at all hours throughout the playoffs.
• Receiver Mike Evans said teammates received texts from Brady at midnight and 6 A.M.
• Leonard Fournette had similarly shared that Brady texted teammates, "We WILL win," in the lead-up to the Super Bowl.

According to Tampa Bay Buccaneers players, Tom Brady was extra locked-in throughout his team's run to the Super Bowl.

Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans said on Michael Irvin's podcast that during the playoffs, Brady was texting film and scouting tips to teammates at all hours of the day and night.

"He was texting us a lot of clips, lots and lots of film on what to expect on certain down and distances," Evans said.

"And he does that all the time, but just in the playoffs and especially this game, he went above and beyond. Like 12 at night, six in the morning. People aren't even up, and he's telling us this won't work against this guy. You've got to run it like this. This is the detail that went into this and the extra meetings and all the hard work."

Bucs running back Leonard Fournette said something similar after the Bucs' 31-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Fournette said Brady texted his teammates, "We WILL win" the night before the Super Bowl.

Fournette added on the "Pardon My Take" podcast that Brady delivered a "powerful" message that woke the Bucs up.

"A lot of guys have motivation that they might be playing for the money or their family or just because they love it. But when Tom said 'We're playing for honor' and for the last names on our back, I think that kind of hit different for us," Fournette said.

Midnight texts seem a bit outside the norm for Brady, who reportedly goes to sleep early for recovery purposes, but Brady has been known to wake up early in the mornings to prepare. Former Patriot Rodney Harrison once said Brady goaded him into working out at 5:30 A.M. by saying "Good afternoon!" every time Harrison arrived at 6:30 A.M.

Brady's Super Bowl preparation was also a bit different this year: the Bucs played at home, meaning they didn't have to travel. Brady revealed that his wife and kids left him home alone for over a week before the game so he could focus entirely on preparing for the game.

"It all paid off," Evans said, "And Tom is a great leader."