Quarterback Tom Brady did an about-face and came out of retirement 40 days after announcing it to confirm his return to play with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2022 season on Sunday night.
“Over the past two months, I have realized that my place is still on the field and not in the stands,” he tweeted. That time will come, but it is not now. I love my teammates and my family, who support me. They make it all possible. I’m coming back with Tampa, we have a job to finish. »
The 44-year-old American will begin his 23and season in the Goodell circuit and will try to get his hands on an eighth Super Bowl title.
Last season, Brady led the NFL this season in yards gained through the air (5,316), touchdown passes (43), completions (485) and passes attempted ( 719).
He formalized his decision to return to the game the day after attending the meeting between Manchester United and Tottenham Spurs. Brady was seated with the Glazer family, who, in addition to owning Manchester United, own the Buccaneers.
1er February, Brady had confirmed his retirement after the Buccaneers eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, at home, against the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Los Angeles Rams.
“I’m having a hard time writing this, but here it is: I’m no longer able to fully engage. I have loved my NFL career, and now I have to spend my time and energy on other things that demand my attention,” he wrote in a long string of tweets at the time.
He is not the first great sportsman to return to the game after declaring his retirement. Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson in the NBA, Brett Favre and Reggie White in the NFL, and Guy Lafleur and Mario Lemieux in the NHL have all done it.
The star quarterback won six Super Bowls in 20 seasons with the New England Patriots under head coach Bill Belichick. He joined the Buccaneers in 2020 and helped them win the second Super Bowl in their history.
Brady is the career leader in passing yards (84,520) and passing touchdowns (624). He is the only player in league history to win the Super Bowl more than five times, and was named that game’s most valuable player on five occasions.
Brady’s decision comes at the right time, just days before the start of the next free agent period in the NFL. Several important cogs on the team would achieve status at that time, including center Ryan Jensen, running back Leonard Fournette, cornerback Carton Davis, safety Jordan Whitehead, linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul and without forgetting his faithful sidekick, tight end Rob Gronkowski.