Tom Brady left no room for interpretation Tuesday: The 44-year-old quarterback is finally calling it a career after 22 NFL seasons that saw him win three MVP awards and win seven Super Bowls — six with the Patriots, one with the Buccaneers.
Brady made it official on his Instagram account, saying he believes football is a “total proposition: If there’s not 100 percent commitment, you’re not going to succeed, and being successful is what I love most about our game.” .
“This is hard for me to write, but here it goes: I’m not going to make that competitive commitment anymore.”
MORE: Why did Tom Brady retire? Former Buccaneers, Patriots QB cites competitive engagement, family in Instagram post
—Tom Brady (@TomBrady) February 1, 2022
The news, while not entirely unexpected, is likely to come as a shock to NFL fans, players and coaches. Brady has been ubiquitous in the sport since the early 2000s, with four more Super Bowl titles yet to come. He has broken every major passing record and has shown rare longevity that was only made more impressive considering how effective Brady was as a quarterback: in fact, he led the league in 2021 with passing yards (5,361), passing touchdowns (43), completions (485), attempts (719) and passing yards per game (312.7).
And now, his career is over. His announcement naturally created quite a stir on social media, where the NFL world couldn’t believe that Brady finally… finally — was retiring.
Here are some highlights of the reactions:
MORE: Tom Brady Retires: Buccaneers QB Retires From NFL After 22-Year Career
this better be real
— New York Jets (@nyjets) February 1, 2022
“It was an honor and a privilege to compete against him on the field, and I really appreciate his friendship off the field.”
Peyton Manning in @TomBrady removal of: pic.twitter.com/yuGQwCCn6B
— Omaha Productions (@OmahaProd) February 1, 2022
Roger Goodell on Tom Brady’s retirement. pic.twitter.com/IMl49R3L2K
—Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 1, 2022
It was quite a journey.
thanks and congratulations, @TomBrady . pic.twitter.com/0gPwUROEkz
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) February 1, 2022
I will miss you, @TomBrady . pic.twitter.com/u0at0Ek1Ox
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) February 1, 2022
Forever a part of Buccaneers history.
Thanks for everything, @TomBrady . 🙏 pic.twitter.com/XkMON0SY8j
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) February 1, 2022
We’ve had some memorable battles over the years, @TomBrady .
Congratulations on an amazing run! pic.twitter.com/FlSro9FtSe
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) February 1, 2022
with the news of @TomBrady Retired today, he would first be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2027. @Patriots | @Buccaneers pic.twitter.com/Rh44Dy0ZfI
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) February 1, 2022
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.