Tom Brady, one of the most accomplished players to ever play in the NFL, has retired at the age of 45 after 23 seasons. Brady has won a record seven Super Bowls, which is more than any of the 32 NFL teams. Brady also won and or received; three NFL MVPs, five Super Bowl MVPs, 15 Pro Bowl selections, 3 First-team All Pro selections, 3 Second-team All Pro selections, and one Comeback Player of the Year. He is the NFL’s all time leader in games started, games won, completions, attempts, passing yards, passing touchdowns, and times sacked, and is also the all time playoff leader in; games played, games started, wins, Super Bowl wins, Super Bowl appearances, completions, attempts, passing yards, touchdowns, interceptions, and times sacked. Brady led the NFL in passing touchdowns five times, yards four times, passer rating twice, attempts three times, and completions twice and holds the NFL record for completions and attempts in a season.
In 2007, Brady and the New England Patriots went 16-0, becoming the second team to go undefeated in the regular season, but would fall in the Super Bowl to the New York Giants. Brady would also lose to the Giants in 2011, and the Eagles in 2017.
Brady’s lengthy career started once Drew Bledsoe, New England’s quarterback at the time, suffered a brutal hit from Jets linebacker Mo Lewis that resulted in Bledsoe suffering a concussion, collapsed lung, and internal bleeding. After Brady took over, the Patriots went 11-3, Brady took the job and ran with it, and the rest is history. The Patriots would stun the St. Louis Rams 20-17. The Patriots would win the Super Bowl against; the Panthers in 2002, the Eagles in 2004, the Seahawks in 2014, the Falcons in 2016, the Rams in 2018, and the Chiefs in 2020.
Brady retired last season, but unretired a couple of months later. Brady’s retirement was leaked, which reportedly upset him immensely. Brady’s unretirement would cause him and his wife, Gisele Bündchen, to divorce.
Coming off of a year in which Brady threw for 5,316 yards and 43 touchdowns, it seemed as if Brady’s age was an afterthought, as he was putting up insane statistics in his mid 40s. However, this year Brady struggled, the Buccaneers offensive line was injured for a majority of the season, along with some wide receivers also being relatively banged up. Brady would throw for 4,694 yards, 25 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Brady also set the single season record for completions with 490, a record he set last season when he completed 485 passes. Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers season ended ugly. The Buccaneers would finish 8-9, and got blown out by the Dallas Cowboys at home 31-14 in the Wildcard round, which was Brady’s final game. The Buccaneers offense struggled to find a rhythm all season. Miscommunication, and coaching Last season the Buccaneers offense averaged 30.1 points per game. This season that number dropped to 18.4. At multiple points in the season Brady appeared frustrated and exhausted, which ultimately led to his retirement announcement.
In a video posted on twitter, Brady kept it short and sweet saying, “Good morning guys, I’ll get to the point right away, I’m retiring, for good.” Brady played from 2000-2023, with half of his life so far dedicated to the sport of football. Brady holds almost every record a quarterback can hold. He will move into the broadcasters booth for Fox Sports, after signing a 10-year 375 million dollar contract. It will be weird, and saddening not seeing #12 line up behind the center. The G.O.A.T has retired. Thank you Tom. You were loved, hated, respected by all, but most of all, you were the best.
