Tom Brady set to retire after 22 NFL seasons

The day football fans around the world thought would never come is here. Tom Brady has announced his retirement from the NFL, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Seven-time Super Bowl winning quarterback will go down as the best quarterback of all-time in the minds of the many. Nobody was a fiercer competitor, and nobody defied Father Time like Brady.

While Brady is walking away from the game, it’s clear he still has more left in the tank. At the age of 44, the Buccaneers quarterback is coming off one of his best statistical season. Brady threw for 5,316 yards and 43 touchdowns this past season for Tampa Bay. It’s not a case of the body failing his competitiveness.

Beloved in New England and beloved in Tampa Bay, Brady is one of only two men to win a Super Bowl quarterbacking two separate franchises. Additionally, he’s wreaked havoc on every team in the NFL — defeating every franchise at least once.

There isn’t much to say that hasn’t already been stated about Tom Brady. However, the best way to describe his contributions to the game is that the NFL will never be the same without him. He wasn’t the biggest, he wasn’t the strongest and he was never the most talented — but Tom Brady was the best throughout his 22 seasons in the league.

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As the superb quarterback calls it a career, it’s tough not to think about how Tom Brady changed the game. Famously picked 199th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft, the former Michigan quarterback rose above to become the best at his position.

One Super Bowl might’ve been enough for a movie, but seven is a number of championships no football player may achieve again. In addition to the wins, Brady’s statistics back-up the notion that he’s one of the all-time greats.

First, Brady’s 20-year run in New England brought unparalleled success to the franchise. Over his time in the North East, Brady passed for 74,571 yards and 541 touchdowns in the regular season. Additionally, he added on 11,388 passing yards and 73 touchdowns in the playoffs alone. In total, Brady brought New England six Super Bowls, 249 wins and 17 AFC East titles.

After leaving New England for Tampa Bay, many wondered if Brady still had it in him. Quickly, he proved his worth — leading Tampa Bay to their second Super Bowl title in his first season.

While he came up short in his second season, he delivered the Buccaneers an NFC South title, along with one of the best statistical seasons of his career. In total, he led Tampa Bay to 29 wins, including hoisting the Lombardi Trophy inside Raymond James Stadium. In total, Brady amassed 11,610 passing yards and 96 passing touchdowns for the Buccaneers.

The ultimate underdog, Tom Brady never let his sixth round draft label define him. Always envisioning himself as a star, Brady’s self-fulfilling prophecy was a joy to watch for 22 seasons. Entering his next chapter, the debt the game of football owes Brady can never be repaid.