Tom Brady: The Undisputed G.O.A.T. Hangs up His Cleats After 22 Incredible Years
Tom Brady, the undisputed GOAT of football, has officially put in his letter of resignation to the NFL and retired after 22 incredible years. Tom Brady concluded his NFL career with an all-time record of seven Super Bowl wins, five Super Bowl MVPs, three league MVPs, and set NFL records for most passing yards and passing touchdowns.
Brady posted his retirement note to Instagram and said, “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," Brady said in his statement on Instagram. "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.” While Brady seems final in his decision to retire as of now, he has come out publicly saying that he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of making an NFL comeback sometime in the near future.
"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 on 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."
Brady finished off his career with a 243-73 regular-season record, and 35-12 record in the postseason. He won three MVP awards and was selected to the Pro Bowl 15 times.
Brady started his career as the 199th pick in the 2000 draft to slowly move up in the rankings after replacing Drew Bledsoe who got injured in 2001 and ended up leading the Patriots to a Super Bowl victory over the Rams, who were considered as the favorite to win by a lot. It’s tough to recognize how special it is from going from an afterthought in the draft to being considered the best quarterback of all time. Everyone is aware of how he truly lived the underdog story and overcame every challenge that faced him.
Brady led the Patriots to back-to-back Super Bowl titles during the 2003-2004 seasons. No team has been able to complete this task since.
Brady earned his fourth ring after the 2014 season. Two years later, he made the greatest Super Bowl comeback of all time by leading the Patriots out of a 28-3 deficit in the late third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons to win in overtime for Brady's fifth ring. Two years after that, at the age of 41, Brady won his sixth ring when New England beat the Rams in the 2019 season.
The ring that widely made the few people question if Tom Brady was the G.O.A.T. of football was his seventh and last ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The older generation thought for a long time that the great Joe Montana was the best to ever play the game, but once Brady won this last ring which set a record, and to do it at the age he did, there was no question from that point on.
He reached the playoffs a total of 19 times, won 18 division titles, went 10-4 in conference championships and 7-3 in Super Bowls. That’s a hell of a record.
Everyone that knew of Brady knew him for his work ethic, intense exercise schedule, and strict diet. Brady got substantially better with age. For example this season, he threw for the most passing yards ever out of his entire career. He’s just another breed.
After turning 37, Brady won four Super Bowls and maintained a record of 17-4 in the playoffs. He was 95-30 and completed 65.2% of his passes for 35,371 yards, 265 TDs, 69 interceptions, and 100.2 passer rating in the regular season in those eight seasons.
"Tom Brady will be remembered as the greatest to ever play in the NFL," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement released Tuesday. "An incredible competitor and leader, his stellar career is remarkable for its longevity but also for the sustained excellence he displayed year after year.
"Tom made everyone around him better and always seemed to rise to the occasion in the biggest moments. He inspired fans in New England, Tampa, and around the world with one of the greatest careers in NFL history. It has been a privilege to watch him compete.”
Tom Brady will go down as the greatest player in NFL history. He is guaranteed to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and every single fan whether you hated him or loved him will thank him for how he changed the game and wish Tom and his family all the best in the future. It’s truly been a pleasure to watch Tom Brady compete over these last years. In my eyes, he will always be the greatest player to touch a football.
By Avner Belsky