Tom Brady retires, insisting this time it’s for good

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tom Brady, who received a file seven Tremendous Bowls for New England and Tampa, has introduced his retirement.

Brady — essentially the most profitable quarterback in NFL historical past, and one of many biggest athletes in group sports activities — posted the announcement on social media Wednesday morning, a quick video lasting slightly below one minute.

“Good morning guys. I’ll get to the purpose instantly,” Brady says because the message begins. “I’m retiring. For good.”

He briefly retired after the 2021 season, however wound up coming again for yet another yr with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He retires at age 45, the proprietor of quite a few passing information in an unprecedented 23-year profession.

A yr in the past when he retired, it was within the type of a protracted Instagram put up. However about six weeks later, he determined to return again for yet another run. The Buccaneers — with whom he received a Tremendous Bowl two seasons in the past — made the playoffs once more this season, dropping of their playoff opener. And on the time, it begged the query about whether or not Brady would play once more.

Solely a pair weeks later, he has given the reply.

“I do know the method was a reasonably large deal final time, so once I awakened this morning, I figured I’d simply press file and allow you to guys know first,” Brady says within the video. “I received’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 one in all you for supporting me. My household, my pals, teammates, my rivals. I might go on without end. 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 instances.

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 one in all three passes for six yards.

The subsequent yr, all of it modified.

Brady took over because the Patriots’ starter, the group beat the St. Louis Rams within the Tremendous Bowl that capped the 2001 season, and he and New England coach Invoice Belichick have been effectively on their technique 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.

In 2020, he joined the Buccaneers and received his seventh Tremendous Bowl. He spent his final three years with Tampa Bay, getting them to the playoffs in every of these seasons.

“I believe I’ve been on the file dozens of instances saying there’s no quarterback I’d reasonably have than Tom Brady, and I nonetheless really feel that manner,” Belichick stated 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 educate him, and he was nearly as good as any coach might ever ask for.”

Brady has received three NFL MVP awards, been a first-team All-Professional thrice and chosen to the Professional Bowl 15 instances.

Brady and supermodel Gisele Bündchen finalized their divorce this previous fall, throughout 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 enjoying, he would be part of Fox Sports activities as a tv analyst in a 10-year, $375 million deal.

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