No one really dared to believe it. The National American Football League (NFL) announced on Saturday, January 29, on Twitter that legend Tom Brady was retiring, without the player having yet formalized his decision. His team, the Buccaneers of Tampa Bay was eliminated Sunday in the NFL Conference Semifinals by the Los Angles Rams. However, we imagined the immortal quarterback to stack up one more season to finish in apotheosis with a new Lombardi trophy in his pocket. An eighth.
It was to forget a little quickly that Brady is 44 years old. A more than canonical age for NFL standards and violence. Even if he has always known how to protect his body from serious injuries, “TB12” no doubt decided that it was time for him to leave the arena.
7x Super Bowl champ Tom Brady retiring after 22 NFL seasons. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/jUYaLvrYg8
— NFL (@NFL) January 29, 2022
One stat is enough to illustrate the incredible career of Brady, the man with seven Super Bowls: the most successful teams (Pittsburgh and New England) have won it “only” six times…
Brady had sown doubt after the loss to the Rams last Sunday when he suggested that he had to advise on the follow-up to give to his career taking into account his family situation.
The husband of Gisèle Bündchen, father of two children, therefore retires after 22 years spent in the light. He, recruited anonymously in 199th place by the Patriots in 2000, has become an icon of his sport, and even of American culture. He is the ultimate winner, the one with the craziest returns, who also holds almost every passing record in the history of the game.
.@TomBrady gave us so many unbelievable moments…
But this might’ve been his masterpiece. #ThankYouTom pic.twitter.com/qO7NCdVqek
— NFL (@NFL) January 29, 2022
Beyond all his personal statistics, the Californian therefore leaves with seven Super Bowls, six with New England (2002, 2004, 2005, 2015, 2016, 2019) and a last, conquered last year, with Tampa Bay. Landed in Florida after a whole career with the Patriots, he led the Buccaneers to the supreme title in his first season. A huge feat. One more in the career of “golden boy” from America.