After 23 seasons on the gridiron, Tom Brady has announced his retirement from the National Football League. Brady announced his retirement via Twitter: “I’m retiring for good.” The GOAT fooled us all last year when he gave a similar announcement and then shortly after decided he would come back for his 23rd season. But that was last year: He’s now 45 years old and divorced, and apparently retired.
Brady’s greatness can be attributed to his longevity and durability. Brady was drafted in the 2000 NFL Draft with the No. 199 pick in the sixth round. The old man has been around, but there’s no arguing he could probably quarterback multiple teams in the league right now and guide them to the playoffs.
Since being drafted out of Michigan, the gunslinger has earned three MVPs and notched seven Super Bowl wins. In a sport with arguably the toughest chance to win a championship, Brady has done it all too often. But if anyone knows number 12, they know the inevitability of his triumph. Brady ends his career with 251 wins — the most of all time.
His career will be measured by his innumerable accolades and boastful hardware. Brady’s name fills the NFL record books — including the NFL all-time passing leader, with just under 90,000 career passing yards. Still not impressed? Brady also holds the record for the most touchdown passes in NFL history at 649.
His enduring dominance in such a violent and grueling sport puts him in the discussion of the greatest athletes of all time. Brady dominated in his 20s, 30s, and 40s — you could argue he could still play until into his 50s.
Brady retires after most of us presumed he would return for possibly one last title run with either the Buccaneers, Raiders or other contenders. He steps away from the game that he dominated for decades.
You can hate him or love him, or give him the Gisele treatment, but there’s no arguing that Tom Brady is the greatest football player of all time. In all seriousness, as Brady retires, he shuts the door on the early 2000s generation of quarterbacks.
