Tom Brady Reportedly Set To Retire After 22 Seasons

Topline

Legendary quarterback Tom Brady is retiring after 22 seasons playing for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to multiple news outlets that cited unnamed sources familiar with the situation.

Key Facts

Don Yee, Brady’s agent, said Brady “will be the only person to express his plans with complete accuracy” in a statement, adding he “knows the realities of the football business and planning calendar as well as anybody, so that should be soon.”

Brady’s health company, TB12, initially appeared to confirm his retirement in a since-deleted tweet that highlighted Brady’s accomplishments and thanked him “for it all.”

Unnamed sources told ESPN, which first reported the news, that Brady had made the decision to retire out of consideration for his family and his health, along with the heavy changes expected on the Buccaneers’ roster next season.

The Buccaneers lost to the Los Angeles Rams 30-27 on Sunday in the divisional round of the playoffs, and people close to Brady told ESPN he knew it was likely his last game as a professional football player.

ESPN reports Brady will officially announce his retirement in the coming days or weeks, as he does not want to distract from the remaining playoff games and the Super Bowl.

Key Background

Brady, 44, is widely considered the greatest quarterback of all time after winning a record seven Super Bowl titles and five Super Bowl MVP awards. The Patriots drafted Brady at age 22 in the sixth round as the 199th overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. He won his first Super Bowl title in his second season in 2002. He won five more Super Bowls with the team, before leaving to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. Brady helped the Bucs win their second title, and his seventh, in 2021.

Big Number

84,250. That’s how many passing yards Brady has thrown in his 22 seasons, an all-time record. He also holds the record for most passing touchdowns: 624.

Tangent

Ben Roethlisberger, another quarterback who is considered among the greatest in NFL history, announced his retirement after 18 seasons on Friday. The long-time Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback won two Super Bowls and said in a video announcing his retirement, “I retire from football a truly grateful man.”

Further Reading

Tom Brady retiring after 22 seasons, seven Super Bowl wins with New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, sources say (ESPN)

At Age 44, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterback Tom Brady Is Overwhelming NFL MVP Favorite (Forbes)