Tom Brady announced that he is retiring from the NFL once again. But this time, the legendary quarterback says it’s “for good.”
Brady’s announcement came on social media, where he posted a 53-second clip Wednesday that revealed his decision.
“I know the process was a pretty big deal last time,” Brady said of his retirement, “So when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first. So, won’t be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay and I used mine up last year.”
Truly grateful on this day. Thank you 🙏🏻❤️ pic.twitter.com/j2s2sezvSS
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) February 1, 2023
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Brady’s retirement came exactly one year after he retired during the 2022 offseason. At that time, Brady said that it was “time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention.”
Brady would reverse course on his decision just 40 days later. He played the 2022 season with the Buccaneers and posted 4,694 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
The Buccaneers made the playoffs but posted just an 8-9 record. That marked Brady’s first losing season as a starter. His last game came in a 31-14 playoff loss against the Cowboys during which he total 351 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
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Even still, Brady said that he “wouldn’t change a thing” about how his 23-year career played out in his retirement announcement.
“Thank you guys so much to every single one of you for supporting me,” he said. “My family, my friends, teammates, my competitors — I could go on forever. There’s too many. Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream.”
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that “family considerations” played a big role in Brady’s decision to retire following the season. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Jeff Darlington reports that Brady was only considering playing for the Buccaneers if he decided not to retire.
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Brady had been tied to the Raiders ahead of the 2023 offseason while recent speculation had connected him to the 49ers after Brock Purdy’s injury. Now, both teams will have to go in a different direction at quarterback, and so too will the Buccaneers.
Brady finishes his career as the NFL’s all-time winningest quarterback. He had 219 regular-season wins and logged 251 total victories including the postseason. He also won a league-record seven Super Bowls, a feat that will be difficult for any quarterback to match.