It is official. Tom Brady confirmed his retirement from the NFL in an Instagram post Tuesday morning after a weekend of speculation around the star quarterback’s plans. The seven-time Super Bowl champion shared a lengthy message about his decision to walk away from the sport.
“I have always believed the sport of football is an ‘all-in’ proposition – if a 100 percent competitive commitment isn’t there, you won’t succeed, and success is what I love so much about our game,” Brady wrote on social media. “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.”
Brady, 44, has more Super Bowl wins than any other player in NFL history and is broadly considered the greatest quarterback of all time. He secured six titles for the Patriots, and won a seventh last year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite the 20 seasons he spent in New England, Brady made no mention of the Patriots organization, coaching staff, or fans in his initial announcement, according to CNN. He eventually thanked them hours later, re-sharing a post from the Patriots to his Instagram story.
After an unprecedented career, Brady said he is ready to devote his “time and energy” to “other things” in need of his “attention,” and looks forward to spending more time with his wife, supermodel Gisele Bündchen, and their three children.




