Since Tom Brady’s second retirement in February this year, rumors have been rife that the star player may yet make a second return to the NFL. However, Brady has recently put those rumors to rest.
In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Brady has stated with finality: “I’m certain I’m not playing again”.
Hopefully, after his short retirement already being fraught with so many whispers, this might quiet those still hoping for his return and allow them to turn their eyes to other stars rising in the game. Taking a look at the top NFL picks might help you pick out the next big player on the field.
NFL’s top quarterback
As a future Hall of Fame quarterback, Brady boasts an iconic career that has earned him floods of fans and a guaranteed name as one of the greatest football players of all time. No NFL player in history has bested Brady’s seven Super Bowl wins in his illustrious 23-year career, and Brady has had plenty of other career highlights to pick from as well.
Drafted by the Patriots in 2000, Brady stayed for 20 years, leading the team to nine Super Bowls and winning an outstanding six of them.
His seventh Super Bowl win came after a change-up – a move to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In September 2021, the Buccaneers came out victorious over the Kansas City Chiefs and Brady broke another NFL record.
His career came to an end on a low note when the Buccaneers – Brady’s team for the past three seasons – suffered a blowout loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the wildcard round. Not long after this, Brady announced on Twitter on February 1, 2023, that he was “retiring for good”.
In an emotional video, Brady said: “I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first. It won’t be long-winded, you only get one super-emotional retirement essay and I used mine up last year, so. I really thank you, guys, so much to every single one of you, for supporting me, my family, my friends, teammates, my competitors. I could go on forever. There’s too many. Thank you, guys, for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn’t change a thing. Love you all.”
Now, post-retirement, it’ll take another five years before Brady can officially get into the Hall of Fame but there’s no doubt in the minds of NFL fans that he has earned his place.
Rumors abound: will Tom Brady return?
There’d be no blame buying into this possibility. Just 40 days after announcing his first retirement, Brady doubled back and delighted fans with the news that he’d be joining the Buccaneers for their 2022 season.
Since his newest retirement, the rumors were first stirred up by an interview with Brady at a tech conference. The presenter asked him if he was coming out of retirement to play with the Miami Dolphins, and his deflecting answer sent fans into a frenzy of speculation that the 45-year old might return to the pitch.
Other sources have cast doubt over any hopes of Brady’s return. A source close to the ex-Buccaneer has stated that Brady misses football and would love nothing more than to compete again on the grand stage, but that this would be “close to impossible”.
“He now has an ownership stake with the Raiders, and though he is very familiar with the coaching staff in Las Vegas, and the fact that the Super Bowl would be played in Vegas this upcoming season, at this time it is very unlikely and close to impossible that Tom would come back to play for the Raiders or any NFL team this upcoming year.”
Brady has finally put these rumors to rest now after an interview with Sports Illustrated.
“I’m certain I’m not playing again,” Brady told the interviewer. “So, I’ve tried to make that clear and I hate to continue to profess that because I’ve already told people that lots of times, but I’m looking forward to my broadcasting job at Fox next year. I’m looking forward to the opportunity ahead with the Raiders and we’re in the process of that along with the other different things that I’m a part of professionally and in my personal life − just spending as much time with my kids as I can.”
So there we have it – Brady might have had to repeat himself a few times but there’s no second un-retirement in his future.