NFL News: Tom Brady ends 22-year career, files retirement letter to NFL, NFLPA

🚨 TOM BRADY RETIRES 🚨 | Get Up

According to sources, Tom Brady officially retired from the NFL and NFLPA, filing his retirement letter on Friday, February 3.

The former star quarterback played for 20 years with the New England Patriots and two years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During his career, he led the Patriots to six Super Bowl victories and was named NFL’s Most Valuable Player three times.

The 45-year-old ends his tenure holding various NFL records, including 649 touchdowns, 89,214 passing yards, and 251 quarterback wins. His retirement makes him a potential candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2028.

While Brady’s public announcement of retirement on February 1 came as a shock to many, some fans speculated that he would return, as he had retired in the last offseason before returning to play with the Buccaneers in the third season. However, he has emphasized that his retirement is definite this time, as evidenced by his filing of the retirement letter.

Troubled final season

Brady’s retirement comes on the heels of a troublesome year, with his professional and personal life taking a heavy toll in 2022.

Last year, Brady and his supermodel wife Gisele Bündchen officially divorced, ending their 13-year-long marriage pact. Bündchen was reportedly frustrated that Brady “wasn’t as attentive as he should’ve been,” allegedly prioritizing his career over his family.

While Brady’s personal life took a hit, his football career also saw a downturn. The Buccaneers fell to an 8-9 record in the 2022 season, the first losing season in over two decades of Brady’s career.

After his first retirement announcement, Brady confirmed in interviews that he sought other fields after the end of his tenure. He emphasized that his next retirement announcement would be his last.

He revealed plans to accept a 10-year position as a Fox Sports analyst in the fall of 2024. He tweeted his excitement about joining Fox in the future, but also mentioned that he still has “unfinished business” as a player. Sources said the deal will cost over $375 million, the most expensive sportscasting contract.

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Buccaneers’ problems

Brady has hinted at his retirement long before the start of February. In 2022, the 45-year-old quarterback retired from his play with the Buccaneers after a tumultuous season.

However, the star player returned to the field only 40 days later, playing in the third season of the NFL late into the year. Many speculated that the return had something to do with his faltering marriage, but Brady said he wanted to resolve final matters with the team.

“It’s not that I’m not 100% committed, it’s just as soon as I make the commitment to do it, it’s like ‘Ugh. All right, here we go.’ It’s like running a marathon. You can’t decide two weeks before the marathon, ‘Hey, I’m going to start running’.”

Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback

“We got right to free agency and I felt some pressure to do it and talked to the team and organization, and it all worked out,” Brady said.

Brady’s retirement throws a wrench in the Buccaneers’ plans for the next season. Sources said that the Buccaneers paid Brady $35 million in his final salary cap, and will need to accept the loss of the star player at the beginning of their newest season.

According to the Roster Management System, the Buccaneers have already gone $60 million over their cap. They only have one quarterback, Kyle Trask, remaining in their contract. Fans eagerly await the troubled team’s next move after Brady’s retirement.