Quick, think about the greatest football players of all time! one of the names that comes first is Tom Brady. Brady has thrown for more than 84,000 yards over 23 seasons. He shows no signs of stopping, even though he is 45 years old. Yet many people ask the same question: When will Tom Brady retire?
To answer that question, you have to think about a few things.
What has Tom Brady’s career been like, and were there any early Tom Brady retirement rumors? Did Tom Brady retire before the 2022 season, and is Tom Brady retiring this year? What will his future be like?
Answer these questions and you can understand the man many people say is the greatest quarterback of all time. Here is your quick guide.
Who Is Tom Brady?
Tom Brady was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He was selected to be a backup quarterback, but he became the starter during his second season. That year, he won Super Bowl XXXVI and began a dominating career in the NFL, leading the Patriots to 17 division titles and six Super Bowl titles.
During his time with the Patriots, Brady seemed happy and never spoke openly about retiring. During the first game of the 2008 season, Brady tore two major ligaments in his knee and was forced to miss the rest of the season. But he returned to the team in 2009, throwing for nearly 400 yards in his first game.
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In 2013, Brady signed a three-year contract extension. Robert Kraft drafted the extension with the intention of ensuring that Brady would end his career with the Patriots. Yet Brady signed another extension at the end of his three years.
In 2019, Brady signed a two-year extension. Brady wanted a longer extension, but his coach Bill Belichick refused to sign it. During the 2019 season, he told friends that he felt Belichick had taken his success for granted, but Tom Brady never expressed a desire to retire.
On March 17, 2020, Brady announced he would not re-sign with the Patriots. Three days later, he signed a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, becoming their starting quarterback. He led the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl title that year.
A Look At Tom Brady’s Retirement Saga
In 2021, Brady led the Buccaneers to the playoffs before losing to the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round. His contract then expired.
Rumors immediately began circulating that Brady would retire as a football player. Staff members with the Buccaneers and members of Brady’s inner circle told reporters that he was considering retirement, but he had not made a decision yet.
On January 29, 2022, ESPN reporters released tweets saying sources had told them that Brady would retire. According to the sources, Brady was concerned about his health and wanted to spend time with his family.
Minutes later, reporters in Tampa Bay tweeted that Brady had not informed the Buccaneers of his decision yet. Brady’s sports agent released a statement on social media stating the same thing.
On February 1, Tom Brady finally announced that he would retire from the NFL. Many news organizations and former colleagues wrote statements congratulating Brady and wishing him well.
But then on March 13, Brady announced that he would play for the Buccaneers after all. On February 1, 2023, Brady took to social media to declare his permanent retirement. Nine days later, he officially submitted his retirement paperwork to the NFL and NFLPA, paving the way for his eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2028.
Is Tom Brady In A Relationship?
In October 2022, Brady and Gisele Bündchen revealed their decision to end their 13-year marriage. They have two children, Benjamin and Vivian. Nine months later, Grazia reported that Brady was romantically linked to Russian supermodel Irina Shayk, previously in a relationship with Bradley Cooper.
The two are said to have first met at a wedding in Sardinia, Italy. Despite ongoing breakup rumors, US magazine reported in January that Brady and Shayk are taking things slowly, meeting several times a week.
Also read: Who is Gisele Bundchen? Everything To Know About Tom Brady’s Ex-Wife
What Is Tom Brady Doing Now?
Post-retirement, Tom Brady has stayed busy. Before stepping away from the NFL, he secured a 10-year contract with Fox Sports to serve as their lead analyst alongside play-by-play commentator Kevin Burkhardt, set to start this upcoming season. Brady is also working on becoming part of the Raiders’ ownership group. Retirement hasn’t slowed him down; he recently shared a video on Instagram showing his intense sprint workout in Miami, giving fans a glimpse into how he maintains his fitness.
At 46, one might think Tom Brady’s athleticism would have diminished, but he’s proven otherwise. During the 2000 NFL scouting combine, Brady clocked a 40-yard dash at 5.28 seconds. In a recent promotional event with Nobull, a company that merged with his former TB12 business, Brady shattered his old record, completing the sprint in 5.18 seconds, with another timer recording 5.12 seconds.
Brady has always been a strong advocate for a healthy lifestyle. He’s even developed the TB12 diet, which emphasizes plant-based, anti-inflammatory foods, according to Forbes.
Are Tom Brady And Donald Trump Friends?
Tom Brady’s connection to Donald Trump has been a subject of public fascination ever since a “Make America Great Again” hat appeared in his New England Patriots locker in 2015. However, Brady has been steadily distancing himself from the former president, revealing in a Variety interview that they haven’t spoken in years.
In the early stages of Brady’s career, he and Trump crossed paths several times, including golfing together and Brady serving as a judge at the Miss USA pageant in 2002. The red hat incident, though, sparked years of speculation and controversy. Brady even cut short a 2016 press conference when questioned about Trump’s campaign rhetoric.
So, what’s the status of their relationship now? Brady indicated it’s essentially nonexistent. “I haven’t talked to him in a lot of years,” he told Variety. The disconnect became more apparent when Brady skipped the Patriots’ 2017 White House visit after another Super Bowl win, a snub Trump pointedly acknowledged by omitting any mention of Brady in his congratulatory remarks.
Reflecting on their past, Brady clarified that their relationship was not the close friendship the media often depicted. “I think they just mischaracterized a lot,” he said. “My personality isn’t ever one to insult anybody. I have plenty of my own flaws. I’m not here to point out anyone else’s flaws. There are things that I agree with. There are things that I don’t.”
