Under review
Brady’s future unknown amid retirement reports
TAMPA, Fla. — Only Tom Brady could turn a retirement decision into must-see drama.
Despite reports that he is walking away from football, the 44-year-old quarterback has told the Tampa Bay Buccaneers he hasn’t made up his mind, two people familiar with the details told The Associated Press.
It’s unknown when he’ll make an announcement on his future, leaving his team guessing and his fans hoping for one more run that seems unlikely considering his age and family situation.
A week after leading the Bucs back from a 27-3 deficit against the Los Angeles Rams only to watch from the sideline as the defense allowed a game-winning drive, Brady’s future took over the NFL landscape one day before a pair of conference championship games.
ESPN first reported Brady’s retirement on Saturday afternoon, citing unidentified sources. Brady’s company, TB12 Sports, posted a tweet indicating he is retiring, and reaction came from around the world congratulating Brady on his career. Even the NFL’s Twitter account posted a series of congratulatory messages.
But TB12 Sports deleted its tweet, and Brady’s agent, Don Yee, said the player would be the only person to accurately express his future.
Brady informed Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht he has not made a decision, according to two people who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the conversations.
Brady’s father, Tom Brady Sr., told multiple reporters that his son hasn’t made a firm decision yet.
A seven-time Super Bowl champion and the NFL’s career leader in numerous passing categories, Brady is under contract for 2022, but he has cited a desire to spend more time with his wife — supermodel Gisele Bundchen — and three children. Brady may be waiting to make an official announcement on his or his brands’ social media channels or his SiriusXM podcast.
After ESPN’s report, TB12sports’ Twitter account posted: “7 Super Bowl Rings. 5 Super Bowl MVPs. 3 League MVP Awards. 22 Incredible Seasons. Thank you for it all, TomBrady”
That post was removed, and Yee released this statement: “I understand the advance speculation about Tom’s future. Without getting into the accuracy or inaccuracy of what’s being reported, Tom will be the only person to express his plans with complete accuracy. He knows the realities of the football business and planning calendar as well as anybody, so that should be soon.”
Brady led the NFL’s passers in yards (5,316), touchdowns (43), completions (485) and attempts (719) during the recently completed season, but the Bucs lost at home to the Rams last Sunday in the divisional round.
Brady won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots in 20 seasons playing for coach Bill Belichick. He joined the Bucs in 2020 and led them to the second Super Bowl title in franchise history.
He would leave the sport as the career leader in passing yards (84,520) and touchdowns (624). He’s the only player to win more than five Super Bowls, and he was MVP of the big game five times.
Widely considered the greatest quarterback in history, Brady has won three NFL MVP awards, was a first-team All-Pro three times and has been selected to the Pro Bowl 15 times. He is 24373 in his career in the regular season and 35-12 in the playoffs.
Overlooked by every team as an NFL prospect coming out of Michigan, Brady was eventually selected by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 draft. He replaced an injured Drew Bledsoe as the starter during the 2001 season and led New England to a Super Bowl victory over the heavily favored St. Louis Rams that season, the first step in a dynastic two decades for the Patriots.
In the 20 seasons he has finished as starter, Brady has reached the playoffs 19 times, won 18 division titles, went 10-4 in conference championship games and 7-3 in Super Bowls.