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Tom Brady states he is retiring “for good” from football, ending a storied 23-year NFL profession throughout which the star quarterback won 7 Super Bowls and set many records.
Brady revealed his choice Wednesday on social networks, stating he “wouldn’t change a thing” about his profession.
Brady, 45, likewise revealed he was retiring on Feb. 1, 2022, prior to altering his mind 40 days later on and going back to play this previous season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first,” Brady stated in a video on Twitter. “I won’t be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay, and I used mine up last year, so really thank you guys so much to every single one of you for supporting me.”
Brady notified the Buccaneers of his choice at 6 a.m. ET Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington. The Buccaneers tweeted their gratitude to Brady later on Wednesday, together with a #ThankYouTom caption.
#ThankYouTom 🙏🐐 pic.twitter.com/VTOYBpAk2R
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) February 1, 2023
The Glazer household, which owns the Buccaneers, stated in a declaration that Brady “set an exceptional standard that elevated our entire organization to new heights and created some of the most iconic moments in our history.
“Tom’s effect will be felt within our neighborhood for several years to come and we will permanently be grateful for those extraordinary memories that he offered throughout these last seasons of his famous profession,” the Glazer family said.
Brady, who won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and one with the Buccaneers, ends his career as the NFL’s leader in career passing yards (89,214) and touchdown passes (649). The three-time league MVP passed for 4,694 yards — third most in the NFL — and 25 touchdowns this past season, his third with Tampa Bay.
“I do not ever think in the 100-year-old history of the NFL there’s been a quarterback of Tom’s ilk,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft told ESPN’s Mike Reiss on Wednesday. “I do not understand, however I would have difficulty ever thinking there would be another one.”
Brady is the only player to win more than five Super Bowls and has been named Super Bowl MVP five times.
“My household, my good friends, my colleagues, my rivals — I might go on permanently, there’s a lot of,” Brady said in the video. “Thank you people for enabling me to live my outright dream. I would not alter a thing. Love you all.”
Brady can immediately begin working as an analyst for Fox Sports, which signed him to a 10-year, $375 million contract this past summer. He also launched a Brady brand clothing line one year ago, has a successful health and wellness brand called TB12 Sports and founded his own production company, 199 Productions.
Brady and supermodel Gisele Bundchen finalized their divorce this past fall, during the Bucs’ season. It ended a 13-year marriage between two superstars who respectively reached the pinnacles of football and fashion.
Famously underrated coming into the NFL — he was picked 199th in the 2000 draft by the Patriots, behind six other quarterbacks, three kickers and a punter — Brady played in one game as a rookie, completing one of three passes for 6 yards.
The next year, everything altered.
Brady took control of as the starter, the Patriots beat the Rams in the Super Bowl that topped the 2001 season, and he and New England coach Bill Belichick were well on their method to ending up being the most effective quarterback-coach duo in football history.
“Tom Brady was the ultimate winner,” Belichick stated in a declaration. “He entered the NFL with little to no fanfare and leaves as the most successful player in league history. His relentless pursuit of excellence drove him on a daily basis. His work ethic and desire to win were both motivational and inspirational to teammates and coaches alike. Tom was a true professional who carried himself with class and integrity throughout his career. I thank Tom for the positive impact he had on me and on the Patriots and congratulate him on his amazing career.”
Brady likewise holds all-time NFL records for regular-season wins (251), Super Bowl looks (10), championship game and wins (48, 35), in addition to playoff backyards (13,400) and TDs (88).
“You think about it — for all the young people out there who dream big dreams — things didn’t go his way at Michigan,” Kraft informed Reiss. “He should have been the starter, but thank goodness he wasn’t, because that allowed us to get him late in the sixth round. He defied the odds. I think having that chip on his shoulder … truly one of a kind.”
More Super Bowl wins followed the 2003 and 2004 seasons. The Patriots went back to football’s mountaintop for a 4th time in Brady’s age a years later on to top the 2014 season, the start of 3 more titles in a period of 5 years.
“I have a flashback,” Kraft informed Reiss. “I think of him walking down the steps at the old Foxboro Stadium, looking like a skinny beanpole with a pizza under his arm — it’s late at night. He walks over to me and says, ‘Hi Mr. Kraft, I’m Tom Brady, your sixth-round draft pick.’ I said, ‘I know who you are.’ He looked me right in the eye and said, ‘And I’m the best decision your football team has ever made.’ You know, he was right.”
In 2020, Brady signed up with the Buccaneers and won his seventh Super Bowl. He invested his previous 3 years with Tampa Bay, getting the Buccaneers to the playoffs in each of those seasons.
Former Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians informed ESPN’s Jenna Laine that his fondest memory with Brady was “holding that Lombardi with him.”
“His imprint on this organization helped take us to the mountaintop,” Bucs GM Jason Licht stated in a declaration. “We will certainly miss him as our quarterback, but I will also miss him as a leader and friend. Our entire organization is indebted to him for what he provided us over the past three years. We won’t ever forget the wins or the accolades and his influence will be felt for years to come.”
ESPN’s Jenna Laine and The Associated Press added to this report.
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