Did we witness, last Sunday, the last game of the best American football player of all time? Since Saturday evening, late at night, the potential retirement of Tom Brady has panicked the sports media around the world. When some assure that the legend will no longer drive back American lawns, his relatives continue to say that no decision has been made.
According to the American channels ESPN and NFL Network, the 44-year-old quarterback has decided to hang up his cleats for good after 22 seasons in the NFL. The formalization would only be a matter of hours. His company, “TB12 Sports”, had even published a tweet paying tribute to him… before quickly removing it.
This sudden turnaround is explained by the statements of the player’s entourage. Starting with those of his agent, Don Yee, who assures that his star “will be the only person to speak about his projects with complete accuracy” : “He knows the realities of the American football world and the timing that that entails better than anyone, so it will be soon.”
Rain of tribute despite the suspense
According to the BallySports website, “Brady contacted the general manager (of his) club Jason Licht and told him that he had not yet made a final decision”. A KRON TV reporter in San Francisco said Brady’s father denied his son’s retirement announcements.
“I want to take things day by day and see where we are”, said the quarterback last week, without ruling out retiring. He was then shown to be just as mysterious in his podcast, arguing that his choice did not come down to “always what i want” but to “what we want as a family”. Hear by this what will be best for his wife, ex-model Gisele Bündchen, and their two children.
Despite the words of his entourage, the tributes have already started to rain in the American night. “All those moments, all those memories. Thank you for everything Tom”, tweeted the NFL, attaching the initials “GOAT”, acronym “The Greatest of All Time” (the best of all time), and a list of his accomplishments next to his name.
“Thank you for everything big brother, it was an honor”, wrote on this same social network Mike Evans, his teammate at the Bucs. “The best of all time”, Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin tweeted. “Thanks for the memories, baby!”, wrote Julian Edelman, his former New England teammate and longtime friend.
More title than any team
If he were to end his career, the NFL would suffer the blow of a second resounding retirement in a few days, after that of another legendary quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, twice winner of the Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But that of Brady will certainly have a much greater impact in the world of American football. Because the handsome kid known for his jargon in the interview is not just anyone.
His career is above all a story worthy of a well-cliched Hollywood film. That of a type gone from the 199th choice of the draft in 2000 to become the ultimate winner, without necessarily being the most talented or the most powerful of his peers. At the start of his career, Tom Terrific has seven Super Bowls to his name, more titles than any NFL franchise. Even if it means talking about figures that rank him among the demigods of American football, it should also be noted that he delivered 21 passes bringing a touchdown during his ten Super Bowls, more than the second and third combined in this ranking.
In 2020, the quarterback had left the Patriots, after twenty years of an already sensational career, to join the Buccaneers, then one of the weakest teams in the NFL, which had not qualified for the play-offs since 2007. The beautiful story had continued, forging a little more, if it was still necessary, his legend: against all odds, the quarterback had led them to the top, beating the Kansas City Chiefs, then putting on his seventh ring in ten finals.
In search of an eighth title – a second with the Buccaneers – he saw his dream crumble last Sunday in the 30-27 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, despite an incredible comeback as his team trailed 27-3 in the third quarter. This may have been his last stand. A cruel defeat for an outstanding winner.
