Following days of speculation and cryptic comments, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady officially announced his retirement on Tuesday, saying in a statement shared to his Instagram that he's no longer "going to make that competitive commitment anymore." A legendary career that spanned 22 years in the NFL has ended.
Brady, widely considered the greatest quarterback in NFL history, is certainly walking away at the top of his game. The 44-year-old won a whopping seven Super Bowl titles -- the most championships for a single player -- along with five Super Bowl MVP awards. In his final season, Brady led the entire league in touchdowns (43) and passing yards (5,316), and helped Tampa Bay reach the divisional round of the NFC playoffs. Unrivaled success in the sport.
"If I can think of one big impact of Tom Brady -- other than probably being the best player in the 102-year history of the NFL -- I would think that it's what he has done and said for every quarterback," longtime NFL columnist Peter King told the Maggie and Perloff show on Tuesday. "I think his biggest contribution to the game is going to be his ability to show people you can play football, as a quarterback, into your 40s and it shouldn't be a fluky thing.
"He was always [humble] with me, was never 'Look at me.' In fact, Joe Burrow kind of reminds me a little bit of Brady. When he does interviews, he's always deflecting, always passing it on to other people. That's something you learn at an early age, if you're a great player. The way to get people in your locker room to all get behind you is to show them that you're truly selfless. I think Brady did that... He reminded me, at the end, of what he always was."
In 22 seasons, Brady finished with a 243-73 regular-season record, and won 35 of 47 playoff games. As the longtime leader of the New England Patriots, he won 17 AFC East division titles, nine conference championships, and six Lombardi Trophies. Brady has rewritten the record books with a stunning list of accomplishments. Among the NFL's all-time ranks, he's first in touchdowns (624), first in yards (84,250), and first in Super Bowl appearances (10).
Brady won four championships after turning 37, and in his final eight seasons, he won 95 games and averaged 4,421 yards, 33 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions. Following the 2019 season, he left New England and signed a two-year, $50 million contract with Tampa Bay. In his first season there, Brady captured his seventh title, crushing the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 55.
The entire football conversation between King and Maggie and Perloff can be accessed in the audio player above.
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