Tom Brady Retirement – Are the Rumors True?

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Tom Brady’s agent Don Yee issued a statement on Saturday in response to the news of Brady’s retirement claims.

“I understand the advance speculation regarding Tom’s future,” the statement states, according to Schefter. Without going into the veracity or inaccuracy of the information being published, Tom will be the only one who can accurately convey his plans. He knows more than anyone about the realities of the football industry and the planning calendar, so that should happen soon.”
Brady praised teammates, coaches, and fans in an Instagram message following the Bucs’ playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams this past Sunday, amid retirement speculations.

“I understand that everytime a season finishes, there will be interest in my future,” the seven-time Super Bowl champion wrote on Instagram. “But this week, all that is on my mind is the gratitude I have for this team and the people who have supported us all year long.”

The social media post came after Brady’s appearance on Jim Gray’s “Let’s Go!” podcast on Monday, when the two discussed Brady’s intention to poll his family on whether the 44-year-old quarterback will return to the NFL for a 23rd season in 2022.

Tom Brady was unbothered after winning his 7th Super Bowl 😅

(via @seanbunting_) pic.twitter.com/Z9Q30SX342

— ESPN (@espn) January 29, 2022

(Reuters) – Tom Brady, who is widely considered the greatest quarterback in NFL history, is set to retire after 22 seasons and a record seven Super Bowl victories, ESPN reported on Saturday, citing sources.

The 44-year-old spent 20 seasons with the New England Patriots, winning six Super Bowls, before relocating to Tampa Bay and leading the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl championship last season.

The decision comes as something of a surprise after Brady led the league in touchdown passes and passing yards this season and could still potentially win his fourth league MVP trophy.

The Buccaneers tried to convince him to come back for another season but he chose to prioritize his family and his health, ESPN reported.

In a podcast recorded after Tampa Bay were eliminated from the playoffs by the Los Angeles Rams last weekend, Brady said he was “satisfied” with his career.

“I said this a few years ago, it’s what relationships are all about,” Brady said.

“It’s not always what I want. It’s what we want as a family. And I’m going to spend a lot of time with them and figure out in the future what’s next.”

Brady is the father of three and he and wife Gisele Bundchen have been building a house together near Miami.

“I’ll know when I know,” Brady said during the podcast. “I think for all of us, you know, we can all decompress a bit. It’s been six straight months of football. Every day consumed by day in and day out football. And I think now it’s just some time to spend some time with my family and spend some time with my kids.”

Brady’s company TB12 celebrated him in a tweet listing his accomplishments.

“Thank you for it all,” the tweet said.

It is unclear when he will make a formal announcement as he does not want to upstage Sunday’s conference championship games or the Feb. 13 Super Bowl, ESPN reported.

“I understand the advance speculation about Tom’s future,” Brady’s agent Don Yee told ESPN.

“Without getting into the accuracy or inaccuracy of what’s being reported, Tom will be the only person to express his plans with complete accuracy.”

The Northern California native, who was selected with the 199th pick of the 2000 NFL draft, is the league’s all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns and quarterback wins.

He appeared in a record 10 Super Bowls, winning the game’s MVP award five times, and his 15 Pro Bowl selections is the most in league history.

(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Graff and Christian Radnedge)