The impact may have been undercut by last year’s widely-memed retirement backflip, which occurred just 40 days after the initial announcement, but legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady has assured the public that after 23 season, he’s walking away “for good” this time.
“I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first,” Tom Brady, 45, said in a video posted on Twitter.
“I won’t be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay, and I used mine up last year, so really thank you guys so much to every single one of you for supporting me.”
Brady added: “My family, my friends, my teammates, my competitors – I could go on forever, there’s too many. Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn’t change a thing. Love you all.”
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The development occurs after what has been universally deemed a lacklustre final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Certainly not befitting of the most successful quarterback in NFL history.
The team barely made the most recent playoffs only to be eliminated in the opening round after a humiliating 31-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys – the first and only occasion Tom Brady had ever been defeated by the Cowboys throughout his highly-decorated career. Brady and the Buccaneers finished the 2022-23 season with a record of 8-9.
So how will TB12 occupy his spare time now?
In addition to running his very own fashion label and flirting with the idea of NFL franchise ownership, as some of you may recall, Tom Brady has signed a historic 10-year broadcaster deal with Fox Sports.
Valued at a staggering US$375 million (AU$525 million), not only does no working broadcaster earn this much money – neither has Brady himself. Fox Sports is effectively paying him more dosh than both the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers combined.
“We are pleased to announce that immediately following his playing career, seven-time Super Bowl Champion Tom Brady will be joining us at FOX Sports as our lead analyst,” Fox Corporation chief executive Lachlan Murdoch said in a statement.
“We are delighted that Tom has committed to joining the Fox team and wish him all the best during this upcoming season.”
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Tom Brady enters retirement with the following enviable career numbers numbers:
- 23 NFL seasons (20 for the New England Patriots, three for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- 251 career regular-season wins (most in NFL history)
- 35 career playoff wins, 19 more than any other QB (Joe Montana was second with 16)
- 10 Super Bowl appearances & seven wins (most in NFL history)
- Five-time Super Bowl MVP (most in NFL history)
- Three-time NFL MVP (2007, 2010, 2017)
- 649 touchdown passes (most in NFL history)
- 89,214 passing yards (most in NFL history)
- 98 different players caught a touchdown pass from Tom Brady (most in NFL history)
- First player to win NFL championships in three different decades
- First QB to start a Super Bowl win for a team in both conferences
- Second QB to win Super Bowl in first season with team (Trent Dilfer was the first in 2000)
- Tom Brady has more Super Bowl wins than any franchise all-time (New England Patriots & Pittsburgh Steelers have six each, San Francisco 49ers & Dallas Cowboys have five each)
- Undeniable GOAT status
… not bad for a 199th overall pick who nearly made a living selling insurance.
