TAMPA, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 18: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up prior to a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Raymond James Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady announced his retirement for a second time on Wednesday, having made it clear that he means it this time around.
Brady initially retired from professional football after the team’s 2021 Divisional Round loss to the Los Angeles Rams. 40 days later, however, Brady announced that he was coming back for a 23rd season with the Bucs.
Hours after announcing his retirement via social media, the Arena Football League decided to take a chance and ask Brady if he’d like to un-retire (again).
Hey, it doesn’t hurt to ask.
The Arena Football League ran from 1987 to 2019 before ceasing operations. On Wednesday, however, the AFL announced that they plan to return to action in the 2024 season.
The plan is for the AFL to have a 10-game season with 16 teams. Rams legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, a two-time league MVP and Super Bowl 34 champion, starred in the AFL before making the jump to the NFL.
In his final NFL season, Brady completed 66.8 percent of pass attempts for 4,694 yards and 25 touchdowns against nine interceptions. The Buccaneers finished 8-9 and won the NFC South division title, though 2022 also marked the first (and only) losing season of TB12’s career.
Brady won seven Super Bowl championships and five Super Bowl MVP awards throughout his illustrious 23-year career, and he played in 10 Super Bowl games altogether. The 45-year-old also won three MVP awards (2007, 2010 and 2017) as well as 2009 Comeback Player of the Year honors.
The Michigan product also retires as the all-time leader in almost every major passing/quarterback statistic. This includes passing touchdowns, passing yards, completions, quarterback wins, playoff wins, playoff passing yards and playoff passing touchdowns.
Brady will unquestionably be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, which is 2028.
