As of: 12:19 a.m
Tom Brady started in the NFL in 2000
Those: AP / Mark LoMoglio
Tom Brady is an exceptional athlete with a long and successful career. Time to retire? A sports broadcaster reports that the 44-year-old wants to stop. The league also confirmed the news. But then Brady’s agent sends a meaningful statement.
VConfusion about star quarterback Tom Brady: After the US sports broadcaster ESPN announced the end of his impressive football career and even the National Football League (NFL) had already recognized their figurehead on the homepage, different reports made the rounds. According to the AP news agency, the quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers told general manager Jason Licht in a telephone call that he had not yet made a decision.
Brady’s agent Don Yee also did not want to confirm the end of his career in a message. “Without addressing the accuracy or inaccuracy of the reports, Tom will be the only one expressing his plans with absolute accuracy,” the statement read.
The tweet from Brady’s own company “TB12 Sports”, which had already announced his departure, was deleted again. The superstar’s father told US broadcaster Kron4, his son is not going into retirement. There is no official statement from Brady himself.
Brady’s impressive career
There has been speculation for some time about a possible resignation of the best football player in history. The 44-year-old has played football in the NFL since 2000, initially for the New England Patriots until 2019, with whom he won the title six times. The quarterback then moved to Tampa and got his seventh Super Bowl ring in 2021. He was honored five times as the most valuable player (MVP) in the Super Bowl.
ESPN was the first to report Brady’s retirement. He is taking the step with a view to his health and his family, it said. The NFL’s homepage initially said, “TB12 leaves with a trophy case full of awards.” Later it said, “If this really is the end for Brady…”
A few days ago Brady lost with Tampa 27:30 against the Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs. Not wanting to comment on his future after that, he said: “Honestly guys, I’m thinking about this game. I don’t think of anything five minutes away from this moment. I haven’t put much thought into it yet, take it day by day.”
With Brady, the record man would leave the NFL. No player has won more titles (7), passed yards (84,520), or scored more touchdowns (624). Overall, he was ten times in the Super Bowl final. Who would have thought that possible when he was drafted in the sixth round in 2000 as the number 199?
The resignation would not be necessary for sporting reasons. He showed until the end that the oldest player in the league was still capable of it. In the main round he had the best scores for touchdowns, successful passes, attempted passes and yards thrown. But it’s also about what else there is in life. “My kids aren’t getting any younger and I want to make sure they get what they need,” Brady had always emphasized – indicating the end of his career.
The NFL will have to do without a star next season. Star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger recently ended his career after 18 years. The 39-year-old Pittsburgh Steelers playmaker drew a line after his team was eliminated by the Kansas City Chiefs. Roethlisberger won two Super Bowl titles with the Steelers.
