Tom Brady is considered the most successful football player in NFL history.
Image: Douglas R. Clifford, dpa (Archive)
Tom Brady is considered the most successful football player in NFL history.
Image: Douglas R. Clifford, dpa (Archive)
Immediately after the first rumor made the rounds, the U.S. media outdid themselves with the long-prepared eulogies on the departure of the best player in football history. "The boundless life of Tom Brady", wrote ESPN. "USA Today" looked at the "cemented legacy" back, and the professional league NFL celebrated "the legendary quarterback career" of the superstar. But still Tom Brady, the one and only, has not even officially ended his career.
In the German night to Sunday, the U.S. news agency AP, among others, caught the reports initially spread by ESPN again and reported that the 44-year-old has not yet made his decision to retire. The manager of his club, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was also informed of this during a phone call. The excitement in US sports and far beyond was perfect.
Tom Brady: confusion around football star
What is true? Only Brady himself knows, as his agent Don Yee pointed out. "Without getting into the accuracy or inaccuracy of the reports, Tom will be the only one to express his plans with absolute accuracy", was said in a statement. Brady’s father Tom Senior even called the reports of retirement "total conjecture," telling the NFL Network, as he told the NFL Network. "Tommy has not made a final decision one way or the other, and anyone who says otherwise is absolutely wrong."
Teammates like Chris Godwin, the NFL and even his company, TB12sports had congratulated Brady just moments earlier via Twitter on a career that has been second to none and has also made Brady, for many, one of the best athletes on this planet. The family man has won seven Super Bowls in the National Football League – no one else has more than five.
The end of the career of the most successful football player in the NFL?
With the New England Patriots, he was always one of the best teams in the league for 20 years, and in his first year after moving to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he won the title again at the end of last season. The Bucs were the first team to win a championship in their own stadium – after not winning a playoff game for 18 years before Brady’s arrival. His contract at Florida has one year remaining. But the decision of whether to fulfill it is his alone.
After yesterday’s Brady quake and roll backwards: @TomBrady plans to comment in a timely manner! & pic.twitter.com/I8x6sjf1ct
– NFL Germany (@NFLDeutschland) January 30, 2022
A legend steps down: Tom Brady calls it quits
So when ESPN reported Saturday, citing multiple anonymous sources, that the playmaker had made the decision, only the timing was somewhat surprising. Brady had last commented on his future shortly after the narrow loss to the Los Angeles Rams, citing that he hadn’t yet dealt with it so closely after the game. But he also said, "My kids aren’t getting any younger, and I want to make sure they get what they need, too."
NFL to apparent Brady exit: "TB12 leaves with trophy case full of awards"
Brady is making the move with his health and family in mind, ESPN said. The NFL’s homepage initially said, "TB12 leaves with a trophy case full of awards." Later it was read: "If this is really the end for Brady. " TB12sports also initially tweeted, "7 Super Bowl rings. 5 Super Bowl MVPs. 3 league MVP awards. 22 incredible seasons. Thanks for everything, Tom Brady." The tweet was deleted when Agent Yee’s statement was released.
However, a report on the NFL’s website, citing one of its own experts, said the question was not whether Brady would retire, but only when. He had this like everything in his career gladly in his own hand, was currently far away on vacation and was probably angry about the current reports. (Read also: 21. Grand Slam victory: Nadal wins Australian Open and achieves tennis record)
Retirement for Brady? For sporting reasons a resignation would not be necessary
That the oldest player in the league still has it, he showed until the end of the season. So in the main round he had the best numbers in touchdowns, successful passes, pass attempts and yards thrown. Against the Rams, he nearly allowed the Buccaneers to make another comeback, for which he is feared and respected around the league.
In addition to the record for titles, he also holds the record for yards passing (84,520) and touchdowns (624), among others. Ten times he was in the Super Bowl final. When he was drafted in the sixth round of the 2000 draft at No. 199, no one thought it would happen. That Brady’s career is really over is much more likely now – despite all the confusion. (Read also: Super Bowl LVI: Dates, broadcast and info on the Super Bowl 2022)