Fans Lose It After Tom Brady's Official Retirement Announcement
Tom Brady has retired from the NFL for the second and final time.
The quarterback, hailed by many to be one of the greatest football players of all time, famously retired in February 2022, only to change his mind and return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to play again with a single-season contract. And now that his season is over (his 23rd year as an NFL pro), Brady is calling it quits again.
He broke the news in a video message on social media, and showed some self-awareness by acknowledging that he didn't need to repeat his "super emotional" statement from the previous time. Instead, he kept his announcement short and to the point, expressing his gratitude to his fellow athletes, his fans, and his family.
"I'm retiring - for good," he 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. Thank you to every single one of you for supporting me - my family, my friends, my team-mates, my competitors. I could go on forever - there's too many. Thank you for allowing me to live my absolute dream, I wouldn't change a thing. Love you all."
Truly grateful on this day. Thank you 🙏🏻❤️ pic.twitter.com/j2s2sezvSS
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) February 1, 2023
It's safe to say that the reaction to the news online has been mixed. While some fans have been saddened to see their hero leave the field for what is likely the very last time, others believe that the time was right for Brady to hang up his cleats after the Bucs defeat against the Dallas Cowboys this year (not to mention a difficult period in his personal life following his recent split from Gisele Bündchen).
Elsewhere on the internet, people are cracking jokes about seeing Brady again next year, as he has cried retirement wolf on us before. And then there are some who think that Brady might follow his friend and former teammate Rob Gronkowski into football commentary and analysis, given his extensive insight into the sport.
see you next year.
— Tony X (@soIoucity) February 1, 2023
Nah. You can see in his eyes. The fire is gone. He has nothing left to prove
— Richard Walker (@dagreatmorpheus) February 1, 2023
TOM NOOOOOO DON’T RETIRE pic.twitter.com/XzHgEiCU6r
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) February 1, 2023
Yes! Now the falcons might have a chance 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 lol, nah all jokes aside you’re the goat bro. I appreciate being able to watch you make history all these years. You’re run has been very inspiring!
— CLAY JAMES (@WhoIsClayJames) February 1, 2023
Thank you! Congrats on one of the greatest careers in sports history!
And the way you carried yourself, lead, and improved the lives of others through that process! 💪🏼!— Andrew Whitworth (@AndrewWhitworth) February 1, 2023
Légende 👏
— NFL France (@NFLFrance) February 1, 2023
— Annie Agar (@AnnieAgar) February 1, 2023
Hopefully you get into broadcast because it would be awesome to hear you break down plays!
— Tyler Roney (@TylerJRoney) February 1, 2023
Truly the GOAT. It may be a debate in other sports… but not in football.
— Seth Kaplan (@Seth_Kaplan) February 1, 2023
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 1, 2023
— Michael Schottey (@Schottey) February 1, 2023
Live look at all Brady fans
pic.twitter.com/qxj8ODG1o8— Sinai (@SinaiNot) February 1, 2023
Tom Brady coming out of retirement in 6 months like pic.twitter.com/eDawGj514d
— BetOnline.ag (@betonline_ag) February 1, 2023
Congratulations on your retirement. You’ll always be the GOAT to fans everywhere, including this @Bengals fan. Thank you for sharing your love for the game and giving us all the gift of watching a legend all these years.
— Jessica Noll (@JNJournalist) February 1, 2023
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