Football legend Tom Brady is retiring from the NFL and considering his next move, sources confirmed to ESPN.
Sources said he considered his family, health and the likely Buccaneers roster turnover when making his highly-anticipated decision. ‘Many who know him believed he desired a decision made without much drama leading up to it,’ ESPN reported. He had previously said that he did not want to play a ‘farewell season.’
Brady, who is widely considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, played his final game last week when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional playoff game.
The legendary quarterback has earned seven Super Bowl rings, been named Super Bowl MVP five times and won the NFL’s MVP award three times throughout his career.
He has more Super Bowl wins than any franchise team on its own winning six with the Patriots (2002, 2004, 2005, 2015, 2017, 2019) and one with the Buccaneers (2021). And the only player to win a Super Bowl in three different decades. He has never had a losing season.
Brady started in 316 games, recorded 243 regular season wins, 84,520 passing yards, 624 passing touchdowns and 14 postseason game-winning drives.
Tom Brady has retired from the NFL after 22 years and three decades in the professional football league
Brady had recently told fans that he would consider his family’s needs when deciding whether he would continue playing
The legendary quarterback was the oldest active player in the NFL before his retirement on Saturday
He spent the first 20 years of his career at New England Patriots before moving to Tampa Bay for his last two years
The 44-year-old (R) is widely considered as the best player in the history of the sport after some stunning accolades
Most analysts agree that Brady will be inducted into the Football Hall of Fame.
He spent the first 20 years of his career at New England Patriots before moving to Tampa Bay with a two-year deal in March 2020.
The 44-year-old had previously stated that he planned to play in the NFL until he turned 45, which would happen this August, and had hoped to leave after winning another Super Bowl.
However, a recent post shared by Brady last week had fans speculating an early retirement saying his family would have a big say in whether he continues.
‘I understand that at this stage in my career, there is going to be interest in my future whenever a season ends, but this week, all that is on my mind is the gratitude I have for this team and the fans that have supported us all year long.
‘This year has been incredibly rewarding personally and professionally and I am appreciative of everyone who worked their ass off to help our team achieve so much. I always want to win, I think that’s pretty apparent by now, but that doesn’t mean I equate losing to failure, especially when you go out fighting the way we did..
‘There’s so much to appreciate in a season like this when you’re surrounded by a team that believes in each other, and plays for the people standing on either side of them. I’ll spare you the Man in the Arena quote, but that feeling is something that I promise I’ll never take for granted. To everyone that was a part of it this year, thank you. I love you all!’ he wrote on Instagram.
Brady married model Gisele Bündchen in 2009 and has three young children: John ‘Jack’ Moynahan 14, Benjamin Brady, 12, and Vivian Brady, 9. He shares his oldest child with actress Bridget Moynahan and his two youngest with his wife.
‘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.
‘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.’
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 played his final football game last week when the Buccaneers lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs
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.
He appeared to confirm the news Saturday afternoon when his company TB12 Sports Tweeted: ‘7 Super Bowl Rings. 5 Super Bowl MVPs. 3 League MVP Awards. 22 Incredible Seasons. Thank you for it all @TomBrady.’
The tweet was only shared online for about 30 minutes before it was removed.
Former New England Patriots star and Brady’s former teammate Julian Edelman confirmed the news on Twitter sharing a photo of Brady in action, Edelman wrote: ‘Thanks for the memories, babe. @TomBrady’.
The official NFL account also shared the news citing @RapSheet.
Don Yee, Brady’s agent, would not confirm the news telling a reporter that Brady will soon make an official statement regarding his future in the NFL.
‘I understand the advance speculation about Tom’s future. Without getting into the accuracy or inaccuracy of what’s being reported, Tom will be the only person to express his plans with complete accuracy. He knows the realities of the football business and planning calendar as well as anybody, so that should be soon.’
However, NFL insider Michael Silver said that Brady told Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht that he has yet to make a decision.
‘Tom Brady contacted @Buccaneers GM Jason Licht and told him he has not yet made a final decision on retirement, disputing the ESPN report. Licht is respecting Brady’s process and waiting for a definitive answer, whenever it comes, from the QB,’ Silver reported.