Tom Brady retires ‘for good’ after 23 seasons in NFL
Tom Brady is a five-time Super Bowl MVP
Legendary quarterback and seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady says he is retiring “for good” after 23 seasons in the NFL.
Brady, 45, first announced his retirement that day last year but reversed his decision six weeks later, saying he had “unfinished business”.
He won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021.
Brady’s final season ended with the Bucs losing 31-14 in the play-offs last month.
“I’m retiring – for good,” he said in a moving video posted to social media. “I know the process was pretty big last time, so when I woke up this morning I thought I’d press record and let you know first.
“It won’t be long. You only get one super emotional retreat try and I used mine last year.
“Thank you so much to each and every one of you for supporting me – my family, my friends, my teammates, my competitors. I could go on forever – there are too many.
“Thank you for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn’t change a thing. I love you all.”
After being selected by the Patriots with the 199th pick in the 2000 draft, Brady led the franchise to six Super Bowl titles.
He left for the Bucs in 2020 and helped them win the title in his first season, being named the game’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the fifth time.
After returning to action last March, Brady – a three-time NFL season MVP – recorded the first losing record of his career in a tough year on and off the court.
Away from the sport, Brady and his wife of 13 years Gisele Bundchen announced their divorce in October after months of rumours.
Brady – heralded as American football’s GOAT (the greatest of all time) – has led his team to the play-offs in 20 of his 21 seasons as a starter.
He is the NFL’s all-time regular season leader in pass attempts (12,050), completions (7,753), passing yards (89,214) and touchdown passes (649). in addition to being the league leader in all four categories in the post-season.