Tom Brady says he's retiring from the NFL "for good"
Legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady announced on Wednesday that he's retiring from the league "for good."
Brady, the 199th pick of the 2000 draft, called it quits in a video posted to social media after 23 seasons in the NFL and seven Super Bowl wins. The 45-year-old quarterback said he was "retiring, for good" and acknowledged his short-lived retirement last year.
"I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I just press record and let you guys know first," Brady said. "It won't be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay, and I used my up last year."
"Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream," he added. "I wouldn't change a thing."
Brady, who played for both the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is widely considered to be the best NFL quarterback to ever play. He finishes with 89,214 passing yards, 649 passing touchdowns, and three league MVPs, according to CBS Boston.
Brady retires as the NFL's all-time leader in Super Bowl wins, passing touchdowns, passing yards, and completions. His 286 victories — regular season and postseason combined — are the most of all time.
Reaction from NFL players and teams poured in after Brady's announcement.
Brady spent the majority of his illustrious career with the Patriots and won six championships with them. The team posted a video reliving many of the best moments with the team following his announcement.
The Buccaneers, who Brady won a Super Bowl with in 2021, called his impact on the franchise "immense" and said he set an "exceptional standard that elevated our entire organization to new heights."
"Tom's impact will be felt within our community for many years to come and we will forever be grateful for those unforgettable memories that he provided during these final seasons of his legendary career," the team said.
Former NFL defensive star JJ Watt, who also retired this offseason, called Brady the "Greatest of All Time" and said it was an "honor and a privilege" to play against him.
Julian Edelman, who caught many of Brady's passes as a Patriots player, also paid homage.
"Learning from you as a player, teammate, leader, son, brother, and father has been the experience of a lifetime. Love you buddy," Edelman tweeted.
If Brady stays in retirement, the Pro Football Hall of Fame said he would be eligible to enter it in 2028.
Brady signed a deal to join Fox Sports as its lead NFL analyst after he retired. Fox is set to have play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt and former NFL tight end Greg Olsen call Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12.
