LOS ANGELES, United States — NFL icon
Tom Brady confirmed his
retirement from the sport on Tuesday, officially bringing the curtain down on a
glittering 22-season career.
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The 44-year-old Tampa Bay Buccaneers
superstar, widely regarded as the greatest quarterback in history, made the
announcement in a post on Instagram.
Brady, winner of a record seven Super Bowls,
said he was quitting the sport after deciding he could no longer make the
"competitive commitment" to continue.
"I have always believed 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," Brady wrote.
"There is a physical, mental, and
emotional challenge every single day that has allowed me to maximize my highest
potential,” he added.
"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."
Brady's announcement draws a line under
three days of feverish speculation that he was preparing to call time on his
career.
News of his imminent retirement had been
reported by ESPN citing multiple sources close to the player on Saturday.
However, Brady did not comment, with other
reports saying he had not decided one way or another.
On Monday, the former
New England Patriots
star had been coy during an appearance on his own podcast, saying he was
considering his future on a day-to-day basis.
'A thrilling ride'
"I think when the time's right I'll be
ready to make a decision one way or another, just like I said last week,"
he said.
Brady is a five-time Super Bowl Most
Valuable Player and three-time NFL season MVP, winning a record 243
regular-season gams.
Brady set NFL career passing records with
7,263 completions on 11,317 attempts for 84,520 yards and 624 touchdowns.
The bulk of his career was spent with the
New England Patriots, where he won six Super Bowls in tandem with head coach
Bill Belichick.
But he added an improbable seventh Super
Bowl to his collection in 2021 after opting to join Tampa Bay in 2020. He led
the Buccaneers back into the playoffs this season, but they exited in the
divisional round with a 30–27 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
"My playing career has been such a
thrilling ride, and far beyond my imagination, and full of ups and downs,"
Brady said Tuesday.
"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."
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell paid tribute
to Brady as "one of the greatest to ever play in the NFL."
"An incredible competitor and
leader, his stellar career is remarkable for its longevity but also for
the sustained excellence he displayed year after year," Goodell said.
"Tom made everyone around him better
and always seemed to rise to the occasion in the biggest moments …
It has been a privilege to watch him compete and have him in the
NFL."
Tampa Bay coach
Bruce Arians meanwhile said
Brady joined the team in 2020 as "the greatest football player of all
time."
"He quickly showed everyone in our
organization what that meant," Arian said. "He set a standard and
helped create a culture that took our team to the mountaintop.
"It has been an honor to be his head
coach for the past two seasons. I wish it didn't have to end, but few players
have the opportunity to leave the game on their own terms ... Tom is the
exception."
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