Nobody realized it, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams was the swan song for “Tom Terrific.”
After almost a week of reports and speculation, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady officially announced his retirement in an Instagram post Tuesday morning.
I have always believe the sport of football is an “all-in” proposition — if a 100% competitive commitment isn’t there, you won’t succeed, and success is what I love so much about our game. There is a physical, mental, and emotional challenge EVERY single day that has allowed me to maximize my highest potential. And I have tried my very best these past 22 years. There are no shortcuts to success on the field or in life.
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 went on to thank the many people who impacted his career over the 22 seasons he played in the NFL in the justifiably lengthy statement. He played for only two teams over his career, with 20 of those seasons with the New England Patriots and two with the Buccaneers.
Brady retires, both statistically and with his successes, as the greatest quarterback to ever play professional football. His statistics are mind blowing, as he owns many all-time NFL records and is in the top 10 in many other categories.
- Three-time NFL Most Valuable Player
- Seven-time Super Bowl Champion
- Five-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player
- All-time Passing Touchdown Leader (624)
- All-time Passing Yards Leader (84,520)
- All-time Passes Completed Leader (7,263)
- All-time Pass Attempts Leader (11,317)
- Seventh All-time in Career Games Played (318)
- All-time leader in Games Started (316)
- All-time leader in Playoff Games, both played and started (47)
- All-time leader in Total Offense (82,228)
- Second All-time in Game Winning Drives (53)
- Second All-time in Comebacks (42)
- Tied for First All-time in Longest Single Pass that Went for a Touchdown (99 yards)
- Selected to 15 Pro Bowl Teams
You get the point. The guy was good…better than good…the best.
While Brady wasn’t the most fleet-footed quarterback, retiring with only 1,124 yards rushing in his 22 seasons, he played the quarterback style of pocket passer possibly better than anyone who has ever played the game.
Hopefully Brady can now enjoy his retirement and sit among the all-time great quarterbacks —like Joe Montana, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Johnny Unitas, Drew Brees and Terry Bradshaw, among others — in the history of professional football.
Happy retirement, Tom! You’ve earned it.