Kendonisha Reckley, Contributing Writer
Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Feb. 1, 2022, through his social media accounts.
“I have always believed the sport of football is an ‘all-in’ proposition — if a 100% competitive commitment isn’t there, you won’t succeed, and success is what I love so much about our game,” he wrote on his social media accounts.
But, Brady explained, that commitment to the NFL isn’t for him anymore.
“I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention. I’ve done a lot of reflecting the past week and have asked myself difficult questions. And I am so proud of what we have achieved.”
In the earlier years, Tom Brady’s NFL prospects were not strong after he left the University of Michigan. Out of the 2000 NFL draft, Brady was picked in the sixth round of the draft, and after 198 players were selected before him.
Brady’s professional career began when he was connected with coach Bill Belichick in New England. In the first week of the 2001 season, Drew Bledsoe, the starting quarterback at the time, was diagnosed with a lung injury that sidelined him for a month. Brady was appointed to the starter position replacing him and took the Patriots to the first of his six Super Bowl wins with the team. With the help of Brady, the Patriots won again in the 2003 and 2004 seasons.
After another decade, the team won another Super Bowl. Brady led the Patriots to eight straight conference championship games between 2011 and 2018. They won Super Bowls in 2014, 2016, and 2018 seasons.
Brady, switching things up, announced in March 2020 that he would not re-sign with the Patriots. Within three days, he had signed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
With the help of Brady, who set a world record at age 43 as the oldest player to play in a Super Bowl the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won their second Super Bowl victory on Feb. 7, 2021, against the Kansas City Chief 31 to 9. Also, during this time, he was named Super Bowl MVP for the fifth time in his legendary career.
On January 23rd, he played his final game against the Los Angeles Rams. The Los Angeles Rams took a 27-3 lead to start the game. In the final minute, the Buccaneers clinched the game at 27-27. As time expired, the Los Angeles Rams kicked a field goal to win.
In his announcement, Brady thanked the coaches, staff, players, fans, and individuals who assisted him earlier in his career. He also talked about his plans to focus on his family moving forward.
