Could this be the end of an era in the NFL? While everyone thought in the last hours that Tom Brady was officially retiring, it finally seems that the quarterback has not yet made his decision…
Posted at 2:51 p.m.
Updated at 5:55 p.m.
The news, first reported by ESPN, spread across the world within minutes. On the official NFL Twitter account, Brady tribute videos were quickly posted, suggesting an official retirement.
But two hours later, Tampa Bay Times reporter Rick Stroud said on social media that the quarterback called Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht to let him know he hadn’t taken a shot yet. her decision. The player’s father, Tom Brady senior, reportedly told KRON 4 News the same. So much so that the doubt still hovers at the present time.
If the news turns out to be true, it would be on January 23 that Tom Brady would have donned his number 12 for the last time, when the Bucs were eliminated by the Los Angeles Rams.
Twenty-two seasons. Ten Super Bowl appearances. Seven championships. The numbers speak for themselves.
Tom Brady’s legendary career began in 2000, when Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots made him their sixth-round pick, 199and in total, in the repechage. In the eyes of experts at the time, the product of the Wolverines of the University of Michigan was not at all predestined to have the career that he finally knew.
Thus, when he arrived with the Patriots, Brady was greatly underestimated and spent his first season on the bench, taking over from Drew Bledsoe. He never watched games from the sidelines again after that.
The following year, in 2002, he took advantage of an injury to Bledsoe to establish himself as the starting quarterback of Bill Belichick’s squad. And he did not miss his chance: a few months later, he led the Patriots to the first coronation in their history. The first of several…
Number 12 repeats the feat in 2003 against the Carolina Panthers and in 2004 against the Philadelphia Eagles. The New England team continued to be successful in the years that followed, without however lifting the Lombardi Trophy for another 10 seasons.
In four years, from 2014 to 2018, Brady offered the Patriots three more titles. That of 2017 will also be remembered, as Belichick’s men overcame a 28-3 deficit against the Atlanta Falcons to finally win 34-28 in overtime.
The quarterback has become a legend.
Change of scenery, same feat
In 2020, after 20 years in a Patriots uniform, Brady entered the free agent market and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Then aged 42, he quickly demonstrated that he still had gas in the tank. In his first season in Florida, he won his seventh championship at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs. To believe that nothing can stop it…
Again this year, the legendary quarterback led the Bucs to the National Conference South Division championship. Although he still had one season left on his contract, Brady had let it be known that the rest of his career was uncertain last Sunday, after the elimination of his team.
“Right now, all that matters is the gratitude I have for this team and the fans who have supported us throughout the season,” he wrote on Instagram. This year has been extremely demanding both personally and professionally, and I appreciate everyone who has worked as hard as they can to help this team accomplish so much. »
In the podcast let’s go, which he co-hosts with Larry Fitzgerald and Jim Gray, Tom Brady explained that he would retire only if he felt he could no longer help his team win. He also indicated that it was essential that his wife and children be comfortable with the decision he would make, because he would like to spend more time with his family and he no longer wanted to neglect them at profit from soccer.
Brady would leave the sport as the career leader in yards through the air (84,520) and touchdown passes (624). In ten Super Bowl appearances, he was named MVP five times.
The reactions are pouring in
Unsurprisingly, the news quickly made the rounds of the Web on Saturday afternoon. Any minute now, nothing else mattered in the sports world. Thousands of reactions from football fans, players and actors were quick to pour out on social media.
“Thanks for the memories, baby,” wrote Julian Edelman, Brady’s former teammate with the Patriots, simply.
Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans was the last to catch a touchdown pass from Brady. “Thank you for everything big brother, it was an honor,” he wrote.
Chris Godwin, also a Brady teammate in Tampa Bay, called the quarterback “the best in history.” “Congratulations my brother, I am grateful to have been able to share the land with you. Full of love ! »
Warren Moon, a 23-year former NFL quarterback, praised Brady, saying he had “the greatest career ever by an athlete in any sport.” “You leave at the top!, He added. All the best for you in the rest of your adventure. See you in Guangzhou! »
Many also took the opportunity to post photos of Tom Brady throughout his career and his many victories.