Tom Brady is retiring from football ‘for good’

After a legendary 23-year NFL career in which the great quarterback won seven Super Bowls and broke countless records, Tom Brady has announced that he is quitting football “for good.”

Brady revealed his choice on social media on Wednesday, saying he “wouldn’t change a thing” about his professional life.

Brady, 45, also declared his retirement on February 1, 2022, but he later changed his mind and decided to play this past season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Brady stated in a video posted on Twitter, “I know the procedure was a fairly big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I decided I’d just push record and let you guys know first.” “I won’t go on for too long. You only get one really emotional retirement essay, and I used up mine last year, so I really want to thank all of you for your support.”

Brady told the Buccaneers of his decision around 6 a.m. ET on Wednesday. Later on Wednesday, the Buccaneers tweeted Brady their thanks along with the hashtag #ThankYouTom.

Brady concludes his career as the NFL‘s all-time leader in passing yards (89,214) and touchdown passes. He won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (649). In his third season with Tampa Bay, the three-time league MVP threw for 4,694 yards, third-most in the NFL, and 25 touchdowns.

Brady has been voted Super Bowl MVP five times and is the only player to have won more than five Super Bowls.

In the video, Brady can be heard saying, “My family, my friends, my teammates, my opponents — I could go on forever, there are too many.” “I appreciate you guys letting me live my wildest dream. There is nothing I would alter. I adore you all.”

Brady signed a 10-year, $375 million contract with Fox Sports last summer, and he may now start working as an analyst for the network right away. Additionally, he established his own production business, 199 Productions, released the Brady brand apparel line a year ago, and TB12 Sports, a popular health and wellness brand, is another one of his ventures.

During the Bucs’ season last autumn, Brady and supermodel Gisele Bundchen finalized their divorce. It ended a 13-year union of two football and fashion icons who were at the top of their respective fields.

He was infamously undervalued when he first entered the NFL; the Patriots selected him 199th overall in the 2000 draft, behind six other quarterbacks, three kickers, and a punter. As a rookie, Brady participated in one game and completed one of three throws for six yards.

All that changed the next year.

When Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots defeated the Rams in the Super Bowl to round up the 2001 season, Brady took over as the starter, and the Patriots were well on their way to becoming the most successful quarterback-coach combination in football history.

After the 2003 and 2004 seasons, there were more Super Bowl victories. Ten years later, the Patriots won their fourth championship under Brady to finish the 2014 campaign, the first of three more championships in the next five years.

He joined the Buccaneers in 2020, where he won his sixth Super Bowl.