After some back and forth, Tom Brady has officially retired from the NFL. His announcement came in a 957-word essay detailing his feelings leading up to the decision.
“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% of me, but right now, it’s best I leave the field of play to the next generation of dedicated and committed athletes.”
Brady, 44, had fans on a rollercoaster of indecision over the weekend, with the widely considered greatest quarterback in NFL history finally deciding to make it a priority to advocate for his family, rather than take on another year in football.
In his farewell letter, Brady showed his immense gratitude, most notably thanking the teams he has won Super Bowls with.
Brady spent 20 seasons with the New England Patriots, where he won six Super Bowls and three League MVP awards. He also was very thankful toward the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with whom he spent his final two seasons. Brady won his seventh Super Bowl with the Bucs, nearly taking them to another in 2021. He also piled up career records such as most touchdown passes (624) and most passing yards (84,250) in his 22-season career.
“My playing career has been such a thrilling ride, and far beyond my imagination, and full of ups and downs,” Brady said in his statement. “When you’re in it every day, you really don’t think about any kind of ending. As I sit here now, however, I think of all the great players and coaches I was privileged to play with and against — the competition was fierce and deep, JUST HOW WE LIKE IT. But the friendships and relationships are just as fierce and deep. I will remember and cherish these memories and re-visit them often. I feel like the luckiest person in the world.”
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