Legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady RETIRES from American football after 22 trophy-laden years… with the seven-time Super Bowl champion calling time on his incredible career at age of 44 following Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ heartbreaking playoff exit
- NFL’s legendary quarterback Tom Brady is has retired from American football after 22 seasons in the game
- Brady, 44, has ended his iconic career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following seven Super Bowl rings
- The sporting great revealed earlier this week that his family would influence his decision about retirement
- Fans around the world have hailed the star as ‘the greatest’ as they lauded his stunning achievements
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NFL legend Tom Brady is retiring from American football after 22 seasons in the game.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback – who has won American football’s biggest prize seven times and is widely considered as the greatest player in the history of the sport – is set to end his career with the team.
The 44-year-old spent the first 20 years of his career at New England Patriots, and his incredible accolades include five Super Bowl MVPs and three League MVPs.
Brady’s announcement could be strategic in a bid to give Tampa Bay time to find a replacement, with the conference championships on Sunday and then the Super Bowl a fortnight later.
NFL’s legendary quarterback Tom Brady has announced he is retiring from American football after 22 seasons in the game
The 44-year-old (R) is widely considered as the best player in the history of the sport after some stunning accolades
Brady has racked up seven Super Bowl trophies and earned the MVP award five times during his outstanding career
Tributes have poured in from across the globe, with fans hailing Brady as ‘the greatest’ after wrapping up his playing days
Brady has previously stated a desire to play until he was 45 — which he would manage if he plays until his birthday in August.
But he said earlier this week his family would have a big say in whether he continues.
‘My wife is my biggest supporter,’ Brady said on his ‘Let’s Go!’ podcast. ‘It pains her to see me get hit out there, and she deserves what she needs from me as a husband and my kids deserve what they need from me as a dad.
The 44-year-old dropped a hint that he would call it a day this week and admitted his family would have a big say
‘I’m gonna spend some time with them and give them what they need, because they’ve really been giving me what I need the last six months — to do what I need to do and I said this a few years ago.
‘It’s what relationships are all about. It’s not always about what I want. It’s about what we want as a family. And I’m gonna spend a lot of time with them and figure out in the future what’s next.’
Tributes are pouring in for Brady on social media following the announcement of his decision to retire.
One fan wrote: ‘ Tom Brady (heart emoji) greatest of all time. Let me find out he comes back in a year or two, but if he doesn’t, wow. Nobody will ever win 7 rings as a Quarterback ever again.’
Another user put: ‘Very grateful to have seen Tom Brady play in my lifetime. Guy is really the GOAT’.
Former New England Patriots star Julian Edelman also paid his respects to the NFL legend on Twitter.
Along with a photo of him in action, Edelman wrote: ‘Thanks for the memories, babe. @TomBrady’.
Brady leads the NFL in terms of yards passing (5,316), touchdowns (43), completions (485) and attempts (719).
He claimed six Super Bowls in his 20-season stint with the New England Patriots, where he played under coach Bill Belichick.
Brady then joined the Buccaneers in 2020 and led them to the second Super Bowl title in franchise history.