Tom Brady has announced his retirement, again. However, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers star said this time it was “for good.” The seven-time Super Bowl winner informed fans that he was walking away from the game on Wednesday morning, exactly a year after he told the world that he was quitting the NFL in 2022. 40 days after announcing he was leaving the league, Brady shocked everyone and famously came out of retirement to play one more season with the Bucs.
A Short and Emotional Announcement
This time, Brady decided that his fans would be the first to hear the news. He said in a social media post that the retirement process was pretty long the first time around, so he would keep things short this time. The legendary quarterback told his fans that when he woke up, he figured that he’d just press record and let them know first.
“It won’t be long-winded,” Brady said, adding that you get to have only one “super emotional retirement essay,” and he used his last year. He thanked “every single” fan for supporting him and was grateful to his family, teammates, friends, and competitors.
Brady said that he lived his “absolute dream,” and the people around him made that happen. He finished by saying that he wouldn’t change a thing and that he loved everyone.
Patriots Took a Gamble on Brady in 2000
In his illustrious career, Brady won seven Super Bowls, was chosen as NFL MVP on three occasions, and earned five Super Bowl MVPs. He was also voted NFL Offensive Player of the Year two times, is a 15-time Pro Bowl player, and has three first-team and three second-team All-Pro selections.
However, you wouldn’t have predicted such a prolific career for the quarterback back in 2000. Brady was selected in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft as the 199th overall pick. The Patriots took a gamble on a player deemed too slow and not athletic enough by other teams. To say that the gamble paid off for the Patriots would be the understatement of the century.
Even though he might not have been the most gifted player, his tenacity and desire to win were second to none. Of course, being able to throw passes with pinpoint accuracy and highlight-reel deep balls helped his career too.
A True Pro and the Ultimate Winner
Bill Belichick, Brady’s coach while he was with the Patriots, said that Tom was “the ultimate winner.” According to Belichick, even though Brady “entered the NFL with little to no fanfare” he left as the most successful player in the history of the game.
Belichick added that Brady’s work ethic inspired and motivated “teammates and coaches alike.” He thanked the “true professional” for the positive impact he had on the Patriots and himself and congratulated the player on his amazing career.
Tampa Bay owners, the Glazer family, also paid tribute to the player that won them the Super Bowl two years ago. They said, in a statement, that Brady’s impact on the franchise was “immense” and that they appreciated the time he spent in Tampa.
The Glazers added that he raised the standard of the organization “to new heights” and “created some of the most iconic moments” in their history.
