NFL Superstar Tom Brady announces retirement after 22 seasons

In a statement released on social media on Tuesday 1 February 2022, Tom Brady has officially announced he will retire from the sport.

The seven-time Super Bowl Champion has called a day on his glorious career in American Football and will leave the sport as one of the NFL’s greatest ever quarterbacks.

In a career that has spanned over two decades, the former New England Patriots legend won more Super Bowls than any one team in NFL history; was a three-time NFL Most Valuable Player; a five-time Super Bowl MVP; a 15-time Pro Bowler; two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year; a member of the past two All-decade teams and part of the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

For the past two seasons, Brady - who is now 44-years-old - has played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning the Super Bowl with them in 2021.

After their shock exit in this year’s Championship, there had been speculation online that it would not be long before Brady announced he had thrown his final ball.

Taking to twitter, Brady said: “I have always believed that the sport of football is an ‘all-in’ proposition - if a 100 percent competitive commitment isn’t there, you won’t succeed, and success is what I love so much about our game.

“There is a physical, mental and emotional challenge EVERY single day that has allowed me to maximise my highest potential. And I have tried my very best these past 22 years. There are no shortcuts to success on the field or in life.

“This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore. I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention.

“I’ve done a lot of reflecting the past week and have asked myself difficult questions. And I am so proud of what we have achieved. My teammates, coaches, fellow competitors, and fans deserve 100 per cent of me, but right now, it’s best I leave the field of play to the next generation of dedicated and committed athletes.”

Brady played college football at the University of Michigan and was seventh on the depth chart when he started, struggling immensely to get some playing time.

Coming out of college, he seemed an unimpressive prospect and was selected in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, 199th overall and he was also the seventh quarterback taken.

In his 22 seasons in the NFL, Brady has started 363 games - the most for any NFL quarterback.

Brady led the Patriots to 17 AFC East titles as well as leading the Buccaneers in 2020 to a wild card berth and an NFC South title in the following season.

Aside from his seven Super Bowl titles, he has also appeared in a record 10 Super Bowls. The superstar is also the only player to win the Super Bowl MVP with multiple franchises - having won it with both the Patriots and the Buccs.

Having initially stated that he would wish to play until at least 45, Brady said that his decision to retire would be based on what was best for his family, previously outlining his desire to spend more time with his wife and children.

“It’s not always what I want. It’s what we want as a family. And I’m going to spend a lot of time with them and figure out in the future what’s next.”

In addition to his many MVP and Super Bowl accolades, Tom Brady also claims the record for all-time completions (7,263); passing yards (84,520) and passing touchdowns (624).

Despite the Buccs not reaching the Super Bowl, Brady is ending his career on one of his most productive seasons with the NFL as he threw a league-high 5.316 passing yards along with 43 touchdowns.

The former New England Patriots linebacker coach, and current Baltimore Ravens inside linebackers coach Rob Ryan said of Brady:

“Once I got to be around him you saw the competitor he was, the fierceness. Even though he was young, everybody would follow this guy.

“Even though he wasn’t very good in his first year, he wasn’t very strong, but people followed him and that’s a leadership he just naturally had.

“And then the next thing is his work ethic, it’s unparalleled. If he wanted to get stronger he got stronger, he was there every day from 5am in the morning, he’d always be the last guy to leave the building and he continued to do that for all the years he played, and it’s remarkable. When you see a guy like this they’re once in a lifetime.”

Tom Brady’s Super Bowl record:

The years in bold indicate when Tom Brady won the Super Bowl match.

• 2001: New England v Los Angeles Rams
• 2003: New England v Carolina Panthers
• 2004: New England v Philadelphia Eagles
• 2007: New England v New York Giants
• 2011: New England v New York Giants
• 2014: New England v Seattle Seahawks
• 2016: New England vAtlanta Falcons
• 2017: New England v Philadelphia Eagles
• 2018: New England v Los Angeles Rams
• 2020: Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Kansas City Chiefs.

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