TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — This time, Tom Brady says he’s accomplished for good.
The seven-time Tremendous Bowl winner with New England and Tampa Bay introduced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday, precisely one yr after first saying his taking part in days have been over, by posting a short video lasting slightly below one minute on social media.
In contrast to final winter, although, essentially the most profitable quarterback in league historical past, in addition to one of many biggest athletes in crew sports activities, mentioned his choice was ultimate.
“Good morning guys. I’ll get to the purpose straight away,” Brady says because the message begins. “I’m retiring. For good.”
He briefly retired after the 2021 season however wound up coming again for another yr with the Buccaneers. He retires at age 45, the proprietor of nearly each significant NFL passing document in an unprecedented 23-year profession.
A yr in the past when he retired, it was within the type of a protracted Instagram post. However about six weeks later, he determined to return for another run, citing “unfinished enterprise” after an early playoff exit.
The Buccaneers — with whom he gained a Tremendous Bowl two seasons in the past — made the playoffs once more this season, shedding of their playoff opener. And on the time, it begged the query about whether or not Brady would play once more.
Solely a few weeks later, he has given the reply.
“I do know the method was a reasonably large deal final time, so after I awakened this morning, I figured I’d simply press document and allow you to guys know first,” Brady says within the video. “I gained’t be long-winded. You solely get one tremendous emotional retirement essay and I used mine up final yr.
“I actually thanks guys a lot, to each single considered one of you for supporting me. My household, my associates, teammates, my rivals. I may go on eternally. There’s too many. Thanks guys for permitting me to stay my absolute dream. I wouldn’t change a factor. Love you all.”
Brady is the NFL’s profession chief in yards passing (89,214) and touchdowns (649). He’s the one participant to win greater than 5 Tremendous Bowls and has been MVP of the sport 5 occasions. He additionally holds marks for regular-season wins (251), Tremendous Bowl appearances (10), playoff video games and wins (48, 35), in addition to playoff yards (13,400) and TDs (88).
“Tom’s legacy is unmatched within the historical past of this sport. All of the Tremendous Bowl titles and statistical data communicate for themselves, however the impression he had on so many individuals by way of the years is what I respect essentially the most,” Buccaneers normal supervisor Jason Licht mentioned.
“His imprint on this group helped take us to the mountaintop. We will definitely miss him as our quarterback, however I can even miss him as a frontrunner and pal,” Licht added. “Our total group is indebted to him for what he offered us over the previous three years. We gained’t ever overlook the wins or the accolades, and his affect might be felt for years to return.”
Brady introduced his retirement in the future after attending the premiere of “80 for Brady” — which comes out Friday — in Los Angeles. The film tells the story of 4 lifelong associates, performed by Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Sally Subject, who went to a Tremendous Bowl to see Brady play.
He was requested Tuesday evening whether or not he felt a connection working with ladies — the 4 stars vary in age from 76 to 91 — who don’t wish to retire.
“They’re working onerous and so they adore it. So good for them,” Brady advised The Related Press. “You already know, it’s simply that’s what life is about. You bought to, , get up every single day with a goal. And if you discover one thing you like to do, , it’s onerous to cease. You actually get pleasure from it. And there’s loads of elements that you just do get pleasure from. In order that they nonetheless deliver it at this age. It’s actually unbelievable to observe them on set and the way a lot vitality they’ve. And I actually was impressed by them and discovered loads of classes on this complete expertise.”
Famously underrated coming into the NFL — he was picked 199th within the 2000 draft by the Patriots, behind six different quarterbacks, three kickers and a punter — Brady actually wasn’t anticipated to grow to be synonymous with greatness. He performed in a single sport as a rookie, finishing considered one of three passes for six yards.
The following yr, all of it modified.
Brady took over because the Patriots’ starter, the crew beat the St. Louis Rams within the Tremendous Bowl that capped the 2001 season and he and New England coach Invoice Belichick have been nicely on their solution to changing into essentially the most profitable coach-QB duo in soccer historical past.
Extra Tremendous Bowl wins got here after the 2003 and 2004 seasons. The Patriots returned to soccer’s mountaintop for a fourth time in Brady’s period a decade later to cap the 2014 season, the beginning of three extra titles in a span of 5 years.
He signed with Tampa Bay in free company in 2020 and added a seventh Tremendous Bowl ring to his assortment in his first season along with his new crew. The Bucs and gained 37 video games (together with postseason) with Brady at quarterback — third most within the league over the previous three seasons behind Kansas Metropolis (46) and Buffalo (41).
“I believe I’ve been on the document dozens of occasions saying there’s no quarterback I’d quite have than Tom Brady, and I nonetheless really feel that approach,” Belichick mentioned in 2021 — shortly earlier than Tampa Bay, with Brady, got here to New England and beat the Patriots in a sport dubbed “The Return.” “I used to be very fortunate to have Tom because the quarterback, to teach him, and he was nearly as good as any coach may ever ask for.”
Brady set league single-season data for completions (490) and cross makes an attempt (733) whereas throwing for 4,643 yards, 25 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in his ultimate season. The Bucs, nonetheless ranked lifeless final in speeding offense and, pressured to rely nearly solely of Brady’s arm, struggled to get the ball into the tip zone.
After scoring 61 touchdowns in 2021, Tampa Bay slipped to 31 final season and averaged simply 18.4 factors per sport — down from over 30 in Brady’s first two seasons with the Bucs.
At 8-9, Brady’s solely shedding season in over 20 years as a NFL starter, the Bucs grew to become simply the fourth crew in league historical past to earn a postseason berth with a shedding mark in a non-strike yr. The offensive struggles continued throughout a lopsided loss to Dallas within the NFC wild-card spherical.
Brady gained three NFL MVP awards, was a first-team All-Professional 3 times and was chosen to the Professional Bowl 15 occasions.
Brady and mannequin Gisele Bündchen finalized their divorce this previous fall, through the Bucs’ season. It ended a 13-year marriage between two superstars who respectively reached the pinnacles of soccer and style.
It was introduced final yr that when Brady retires from taking part in, he would be a part of Fox Sports activities as a tv analyst in a 10-year, $375 million deal.
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