(Photo Courtesy: Forbes.com)
When Tom Brady announced his retirement from football on February 1st, 2022, it was short-lived as he un-retired in March to play another season. On Wednesday morning one year after the announcement, Tom Brady officially announced his retirement “for good".
After being drafted out of the University of Michigan at twenty-two years old, Brady unexpectedly earned his first chance to shine in the NFL for the New England Patriots. In 2001, after Patriots starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe suffered an injury mid-game against the New York Jets, Brady took over as the backup for the rest of the game. After that, it was all success for the young quarterback and his Patriot team for the next twenty years.
Brady quickly proved his worthiness of the starting quarterback position, surprising everybody with his exceptional skill and talent. In only the second year of his career, Brady led his team to the Super Bowl, where the Patriots prevailed over the heavily favored St. Louis Rams 20-17, earning himself and the Patriots their first title. This win was not a one-time deal for Brady, as he led the Patriots to eight more super bowls, and won five. Along with his playoff heroics, Brady was named league MVP three times in his career.
In 2019, Brady continued to play at a high level just one season removed from winning his sixth Super Bowl with the Patriots. However, a disappointing 20-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans in the Wild Card game would conclude not only Brady's twentieth season in the league, but his last as a New England Patriot.
Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020 and led them to their second Super Bowl victory in his first year with the new squad. For the next two years as a Buccaneer, Brady kept his playoff streak alive, playing one NFC Divisional game in 2021, and a wild card matchup in 2022. In Tampa, Brady became the all-time NFL leader in passing yards.
After falling to the Cowboys in the 2023 NFC wild card game at forty-five, Brady has fulfilled his dream and ended his legendary career, which will never be forgotten.
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