Tom Brady announces retirement from football, this time “for good”

Tom Brady, the legendary quarterback and seven-time Super Bowl champion, announced his second and final retirement from the NFL on Wednesday, February 1. In a video posted on Twitter, the 45-year-old emotionally stated that he was retiring “for good” this time. He expressed his gratitude to fans, family, friends, teammates, and competitors for their support throughout his 23-season career.

Brady leaves the NFL with numerous records and accolades, including seven Super Bowl victories, five Super Bowl MVP awards, and 15 Pro Bowl selections. Speculation was rife about where Brady would go after his team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, were eliminated from the playoffs in January. Teams such as the Las Vegas Raiders, the San Francisco 49ers, and the Tennessee Titans were mentioned as potential destinations.

Despite his age, Brady was one of the league’s most efficient quarterbacks during the 2022 season, throwing for 4,694 yards and 25 touchdowns. However, the same season was one of the worst for a Brady-led team with a 9-8 record.

Brady was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft and led the team to six Super Bowl victories. In 2020, Brady left the Patriots and signed on with Tampa Bay. He won his seventh Super Bowl ring and was named Super Bowl MVP in 2021, leading the Bucs to victory over the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9.

That game marked Tom Brady as the oldest player to win a Super Bowl as the starting quarterback and be named Super Bowl MVP at age 43. In February 2022, he announced his initial retirement. Brady made headlines again when he returned to the Buccaneers just 40 days later.

He went through a divorce from his wife of thirteen years, Gisele Bündchen, in October 2022. The split was widely speculated due to Brady returning to the NFL rather than staying in retirement. He recently announced that his marital issues led to him losing 15 pounds and affected his focus on the field.

Despite the difficulties he faced during his final season in the NFL, Brady will be remembered for his numerous triumphs. With his announcement on Wednesday, Tom Brady officially closes the book on one of the most successful and storied careers in the NFL’s history.