Tom Brady, the most winning athlete in American football history, confirmed this Tuesday (1st) his retirement, at the age of 44.
The veteran quarterback’s career comes to an end after 22 seasons in the NFL and seven Super Bowl titles, six with the New England Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That’s more than any team has ever won in league history.
The star’s decision was revealed last Saturday (29) by Adam Schefter and Jeff Darlington, reporters for ESPN in the United States. Shortly after, it was reported on the football league website. The entity’s official profiles on social networks then published several tributes to Brady’s career.
But it still had to be said by him. The athlete would not like the matter to be brought up before this year’s Super Bowl, which he will not participate in, and this has led to mixed information.
“Without going into the precision or inaccuracy of what is being reported, Tom will be the only person to express his plans with complete precision,” his agent, Don Yee, said in a statement Saturday. “He knows the realities of football business and calendar planning as well as anyone, so that should happen soon.”
On the same day, the player’s father contested the news of retirement and said that this decision had not yet been made. The company TB12, which is owned by Brady, published a post on Twitter in which he listed his accomplishments and wrote “thank you for everything”, but later deleted the publication.
Now, however, it is consecrated. “It’s hard to write, but here goes: I’m not going to make that competitive commitment anymore. I’ve loved my NFL career. And now it’s time to focus my time and energy on other things that demand my attention.” social networks.
“If you don’t have a 100% competitive commitment, you won’t be successful, and success is what I love so much about our game,” he said. “There is a physical, mental and emotional challenge every day that has allowed me to maximize my potential. And I’ve tried my best for the last 22 years. There are no shortcuts to success on the field or in life.”
The 199th pick in the sixth round of the 2000 draft by the New England Patriots, Brady bucked the prospects and ended up leading the team into a dynasty under coach Bill Belichick. His run at the Massachusetts team ended in March 2020 after a disagreement over the length of a new contract.
The star then moved for the first time in his career and went to Florida to defend the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There were doubts about his future and ability to win in a new environment, but he managed that in his rookie season.
Last February, the team became the first team to win the Super Bowl in their own stadium (the location of the game is pre-determined years in advance), against Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs, 31-9.
Despite his advanced age, the defending champion ended the last regular season as the leader in passing yards (5,316) and touchdown passes (43) and is among the candidates for the MVP award (best player), which could be the fourth of his career. . The quarterback has won the Super Bowl MVP award five times, another record.
His last game was on January 23, a 30–27 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round of the playoffs. He narrowly missed another historic comeback, after the team was 27-3 behind.
The Rams will decide the Super Bowl on the 13th against the Cincinnati Bengals.
After the elimination, Brady said he would talk to his wife, Brazilian model Gisele Bündchen, and their three children to define their future in the league.
In his publication on Tuesday, he said that Gisele, Jack, Benny and Vivi are his inspiration and greatest achievements. The American highlighted Gisele’s “altruism”. He said that the Brazilian is the “most loving and supportive wife”: “She did everything for our family to allow me to focus on my career.”
Finally, he wrote in Portuguese: “I love you, love of my life”.
TOM BRADY’S RECORDS
- Most Super Bowl titles by a player (and team): 7
- Most Super Bowl MVP Awards: 5
- Most career passing yards: 84,520
- Most career touchdown passes: 624
- Most career wins: 243
- Most career passes completed: 7,263
Source: Folha
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