NFL – This time it’s the end: the legendary quarterback Tom Brady puts an end to his professional career

The legend is gone. For good, this time yes. The announcement of his retirement had almost become an open secret for a few weeks. Even more since the premature elimination of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys (31-14). At 45, and after 23 seasons as a professional, Tom Brady is ending his career, a full year after announcing a first withdrawal that he had finally abandoned, barely forty days later.

In a post published on his social networks, the one who is considered the greatest player in the history of American football was firm and sure of his decision. « I’ll cut to the chase: I’m retiring. For real. I know the announcement was quite hectic the last time. So when I woke up this morning I figured I’d just hit ‘record’ to let you know. »

Aware of having shaken sports news at the time of its first announcement in February 2022, “TB12” did not wish to drag on in its farewell message. « I won’t be long. We only have one opportunity to be able to announce his retirement and to arouse as many reactions. I fried my joker last year. I thank you all for your support over the past few years: my family, my friends, my teammates, my opponents… I could go on forever. Thank you guys for letting me live my absolute dream. I wouldn’t change anything. I love you all. »

A stratospheric career, endless records

If he had ended up back with the Buccaneers, eager to win an eighth Super Bowl, Tom Brady had to juggle the glitches for his ultimate vintage. Between a team victim of repeated injuries and a lack of freshness on the offensive level, the quarterback lived a complicated final vintage. And the genius of the « Comeback Kid » did not allow the franchise to get its head above water once the postseason began, without a solution against the Dallas Cowboys…

With seven Super Bowls in the bag, six with the Pats and one with the Bucs, three regular season MVP trophies and five Super Bowl MVP trophies, the former New England Patriots bandleader has collected records during his (very) long career. Quarterback winning records (251), most passing touchdowns (649), most completions (7,753), most passing yards (89,214), number 12 legacy is colossal. If the last score of his book was not necessarily the most beautiful, Tom Brady leaves the scene of the NFL, and sport quite simply, by the very big door. Hi artist?