Quick, think about the greatest football players of all time! If you thought of Tom Brady, you’re in great company. Brady has thrown for more than 84,000 yards over 23 seasons. He shows no signs of stopping, even though he is 45 years old. Yet many people ask the same question: When will Tom Brady retire?
To answer that question, you have to think about a few things.
What has Tom Brady’s career been like, and were there any early Tom Brady retirement rumors? Did Tom Brady retire before the 2022 season, and is Tom Brady retiring this year? What will his future be like?
Answer these questions and you can understand the man many people say is the greatest quarterback of all time. Here is your quick guide.
A Brief History of Tom Brady
Tom Brady was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He was selected to be a backup quarterback, but he became the starter during his second season. That year, he won Super Bowl XXXVI and began a dominating career in the NFL, leading the Patriots to 17 division titles and six Super Bowl titles.
TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 07: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers defeated the Chiefs 31-9. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
During his time with the Patriots, Brady seemed happy and never spoke openly about retiring. During the first game of the 2008 season, Brady tore two major ligaments in his knee and was forced to miss the rest of the season. But he returned to the team in 2009, throwing for nearly 400 yards in his first game.
In 2013, Brady signed a three-year contract extension. Robert Kraft drafted the extension with the intention of ensuring that Brady would end his career with the Patriots. Yet Brady signed another extension at the end of his three years.
In 2019, Brady signed a two-year extension. Brady wanted a longer extension, but his coach Bill Belichick refused to sign it. During the 2019 season, he told friends that he felt Belichick had taken his success for granted, but Tom Brady never expressed a desire to retire.
On March 17, 2020, Brady announced he would not re-sign with the Patriots. Three days later, he signed a two-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, becoming their starting quarterback. He led the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl title that year.
The Tom Brady Retirement Saga
In 2021, Brady led the Buccaneers to the playoffs before losing to the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round. His contract then expired.
Rumors immediately began circulating that Brady would retire as a football player. Staff members with the Buccaneers and members of Brady’s inner circle told reporters that he was considering retirement, but he had not made a decision yet.
TAMPA, FLORIDA – JULY 27: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gestures to fans during Buccaneers Training Camp at AdventHealth Training Center on July 27, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
On January 29, 2022, ESPN reporters released tweets saying sources had told them that Brady would retire. According to the sources, Brady was concerned about his health and wanted to spend time with his family.
Minutes later, reporters in Tampa Bay tweeted that Brady had not informed the Buccaneers of his decision yet. Brady’s sports agent released a statement on social media stating the same thing.
On February 1, Tom Brady finally announced that he would retire from the NFL. Many news organizations and former colleagues wrote statements congratulating Brady and wishing him well.
But then on March 13, Brady announced that he would play for the Buccaneers after all. Sportswriters have had a mixed reaction to his decision, with some people calling him indecisive or selfish.
Recent News
For 11 days during August, Brady did not participate in practices with the Buccaneers. He did not release a press statement explaining why.
But head coach Todd Bowles said he was dealing with a “personal issue.” Sportswriters speculated that Brady was having disputes with his wife, Gisele Bündchen. Brady returned to participate in the Buccaneers’ pre-season games.
ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates with his wife Gisele Bündchen after the Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
On September 11, Brady played in the season-opening game for the Buccaneers. He is the oldest quarterback to start a game in the history of the NFL.
On September 13, Elle Magazine published an interview with Bündchen. She stated that she was concerned about Brady’s health and that they have had multiple conversations about retiring.
The “Let’s Go!” podcast posted an interview with Brady online the same day. Brady mentioned that his career didn’t leave him with enough time to celebrate the holidays and be close to family.
The next day, CNN published an article stating that a source had told them that Brady and Bündchen were living in separate homes. The Spun published its own article claiming that Bündchen had given Brady an ultimatum. He could retire from the NFL, or he could keep playing and they would get divorced.
Brady’s Future
As of this writing, none of the recent reports about Brady’s marriage or retirement have been confirmed. However, it seems likely that Tom Brady will retire at the end of the season. Brady’s comments suggest he is tired of being away from his family, and the ultimatum may provide enough encouragement for retirement.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 11: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on before the game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on September 11, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Several sportswriters have written articles speculating that Brady did not intend to retire in 2022. Some have speculated that he wanted to join the Miami Dolphins, possibly as a co-owner. These articles have not been confirmed, but they do indicate that Brady may want to become an owner of an NFL team in the future.
In May, Brady signed a contract with Fox Sports to become the lead color commentator for the network. This contract will take effect once he retires.
He has also signed a contract with Netflix to produce specials with the network, and he earns millions off of endorsements and product lines. The future for Brady is very bright, and he will remain a prominent figure in the media, regardless of when he retires.
So Will Tom Brady Retire?
The question on every NFL fan’s mind is “Will Tom Brady retire?” During his 20 seasons with the New England Patriots, there were no retirement rumors. Speculation only began in 2022, when Brady’s contract with the Buccaneers expired.
HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 05: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. The Patriots defeated the Falcons 34-28. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
In February, Brady did announce he would retire so he could be with his family. One month later, he changed his mind, upsetting his wife. Recent articles suggest his marriage will end unless he retires this year.
