Tom Brady, the winningest quarterback in NFL history, announced Wednesday that he is retiring from the sport he dominated for years.
“I know this process was a big deal last time, so when I wake up this morning, I’m going to hit record and let you know first thing,” Brady said in a video on Twitter. “I won’t be around long. You’ll just get a super emotional retirement essay I used mine last yearSo thank you guys so much to each and every one of you for supporting me.”
Brady’s ruthless commitment to winning is legendary and it was only in his final season that his skills showed signs of diminishing, though he did pass for 4,694 yards, third most in the NFL. The 45-year-old Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a losing record — the first of Brady’s career as a starter — and entered the playoffs as other teams in the NFC South fared even worse. They were Easily beaten Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the playoffs.
Brady’s list of accomplishments is almost as long as his career. With six of his seven Super Bowl wins New England Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — the most of any player in NFL history. He also holds the NFL records for career passing touchdowns (649) and passing yards (89,214). Others More vague statistics No other quarterback has played in a Super Bowl over the age of 40 — Brady played in three and won two; His 35 playoff wins have more than 13 other team appearances; And, remarkably, he’s appeared in nearly one-fifth of the Super Bowls he’s ever played in.
“My family, my friends, my teammates, my rivals — I could go on forever, there’s so many,” Brady said in Wednesday’s video. “Thank you guys for letting me live my absolute dream. I wouldn’t change a thing. Love everyone.”
This isn’t Brady’s first farewell. He announced first His retirement exactly one year ago Before deciding to return to the Buccaneers after 40 days, citing “unfinished business”.. However, Tampa was weakened by injuries and Brady suffered Off-field issues As his final season failed.
Brady was underrated coming out of college. There were 198 players — six of them quarterbacks — selected ahead of Brady in 2000. NFL The draft before the New England Patriots selected him. Patriots owner Robert Kraft later recalled Brady introducing himself: “I’m Tom Brady and I’m the best decision this organization has ever made.”
Brady was right. He started as New England’s fourth-string quarterback and slowly progressed to Drew Bledsoe’s backup. When Bledsoe was injured early in the 2001 season, Brady took over and never looked back. He would go on to win seven Super Bowl titles, three NFL MVP awards and hold every notable quarterback record in league history.
“I think I’ve gone on the record dozens of times that there’s no quarterback I like more than Tom Brady, and I still feel that way,” said Bill Belichick, the coach under whom Brady won six titles in New England. In 2021. “I was very fortunate to coach Tom as a quarterback, and he was as good as any coach could ask for.”
Brady’s fellow athletes paid tribute to him on Wednesday.
“The greatest of all time. No question, no debate. It’s an honor and a privilege,” three-time NFL defensive end JJ Watt wrote on Twitter.
Former New York Yankees star Derek Jeter, who has dominated Major League Baseball as much as Brady has in the NFL, wished the quarterback an “unbelievable career. It’s been fun to watch.”
Brady is now likely to focus on his lucrative off-field interests. She owns fashion and wellness businesses and signed a 10-year broadcast deal with Fox Sports last year. The deal was reported by the New York Post Worth $375 million$332m surpasses Brady Earned in salary During his NFL career.
