After 22 years, the Buccaneers quarterback finally leaves the NFL, says commentary editor Logan Guthrie
After a thrilling career that has won him the title of the Greatest of All Time in many circles, it has been announced that Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady will officially toss in the towel and hang up his cleats. At 44, he has decided to finally retire, finishing with seven Lombardi trophies and leading both the New England Patriots and the Buccaneers to the Super Bowl a total of seven times (and winning five MVPs along the way), among other great victories in a long and impressive career.
Brady took to Instagram to discuss his career and retirement. “I have always believed the sport of football is an ‘all-in’ proposition—if a 100% competitive commitment isn’t there, you won’t succeed, and success is what I love so much about our game,” he said. “There is a physical, mental and emotional challenge EVERY single day that has allowed me to maximize my highest potential. And I have tried my very best these past 22 years. There are no shortcuts to success on the field or in life.”
“This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore. I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention. I’ve done a lot of reflecting the past week and have asked myself difficult questions. And I am so proud of what we have achieved. My teammates, coaches, fellow competitors and fans deserve 100% of me, but right now, it’s best I leave the field of play to the next generation of dedicated and committed athletes.”
Although a short-lived run with his current team starting in 2020, Brady speaks fondly on the time with them in his reflections. In his post, he went on to say, “To my Bucs teammates the past two years, I love you guys, and I have loved going to battle with you. You have dug so deep to challenge yourself, and it inspired me to wake up every day and give you my best. I am always here for you guys and want to see you continue to push yourselves to be your best. I couldn’t be happier with what we accomplished together.”
Of course, Brady is best-known for his time spent with the Patriots for the majority of his career since 2000. He did not address them directly, but he did take the time to thank the team in a later response, as well as his thousands of fans that have stood by him throughout all his years in the sport. This was prompted by a statement by Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, in which he said the following:
“Words cannot describe the feelings I have for Tom Brady, nor adequately express the gratitude my family, the New England Patriots, and our fans have for Tom for all he did during his career. A generation of football fans have grown up knowing only an NFL in which Tom Brady dominated. … You didn’t have to be a Patriots fan to respect and appreciate his competitiveness, determination and will to win that fueled his success. As a fan of football, it was a privilege to watch. As a Patriots fan, it was a dream come true.”
This statement by Kraft really says it all. Despite the bumps in the road of his career, all the wins and losses, the only thing to do is to look back on all the amazing moments in this football player’s career, and look to the future with hope that there will be another competitor that brings as much joy to so many people.
