The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback declares that now it's the best time for him to 'leave the field of play to the next generation of dedicated and committed athletes.'
- Feb 1, 2022
AceShowbiz - Tom Brady has officially announced his retirement from the NFL. After days of speculation, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback confirmed that he will no longer make a "competitive commitment" with football.
The 44-year-old broke the news via Twitter and Instagram on Tuesday, February 1. "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," he began his lengthy statement.
"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," he added. "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. I've done a lot of reflecting the past week and have asked myself difficult questions. And I am so proud of what we have achieved," the athlete continued. "My teammates, coaches, fellow competitors, and fans deserve 100 [percent] of me, but right now, it's best I leave the field of play to the next generation of dedicated and committed athletes."
Rumors about Tom planning to retire were first brought by ESPN a few days prior. However, the football player, who has won seven Super Bowl titles during his 22-year career, previously hinted at his retirement back in October 2021 when detailing wife Gisele Bundchen's sacrifices for their family.
"I think my wife has, you know, held down the house for a long time now," he said in an episode of "Let's Go! with Tom Brady, Larry Fitzgerald and Jim Gray" podcast. "And I think there's things that she wants to accomplish."
"[Gisele] hasn't worked as much in the last 10, 12 years just raising our family and kind of committing to being in a life in Boston and then moving to Florida," the former New England Patriots player elaborated. "But that's an issue, and it's a very difficult issue to reconcile without just saying, 'Hey, it's time to retire.' And I think there's, you know, we're coming to the end here too, so I don't want to miss any of the kids' stuff."
