Tom Brady has officially announced his retirement from the NFL.
Tom Brady has confirmed that he is to retire from the NFL
The 44-year-old sports icon – who won a record seven Super Bowls during a glittering 22 seasons in the sport – confirmed the decision in a social media post uploaded on Tuesday (01.02.22).
In a statement, Tom wrote: "I have always believed that the sport of football is an 'all-in' preposition – if a 100 per cent competitive commitment isn't there, you won't succeed, and success is what I love so much about our game.
"There is a physical, mental, and emotional challenge EVERY single day that has allowed me to maximise 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. 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 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 per cent of me, but right now, it's best I leave the field of play to the next generation of dedicated and committed athletes."
It had been reported last weekend that Brady – who has spent the last two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – had decided to quietly bow out of the NFL, but the claims were branded "total conjecture" by his father Tom Brady Sr.
Tom had said that he was ready to focus on family after the Buccaneers were eliminated from the NFL play-offs by the Los Angeles Rams.
The sports star – who shares children Benjamin, 12, and Vivien, nine, with supermodel wife Gisele Bündchen and 14-year-old Jack from a previous relationship – said: "I'm in no rush to figure out what's next. I'll know when I know. It's a day after the season. So I think for all of us, you know, we can all decompress a bit. It's been six straight months of football, every day consumed by day in and day out football. I think now it's just some time to spend some time with my family and spend some time with my kids."
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