Tom Brady, the quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, confirmed on Tuesday morning that he is retiring from the NFL after a 22-year career that in which he won seven Super Bowls.
Though Brady claimed he was retiring because he could no longer make the “competitive commitment” to the game, many of his fans are blaming his wife Gisele Bundchen for the decision.
Rumors had been swirling for days that Brady was retiring, and though he said in an interview just yesterday that he was still “going through the process” of figuring out what to do, he has since made the decision to call it quits.
“I have done a lot of reflecting the past week and have asked myself difficult questions,” Brady stated. “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.”
Then, he came out with a statement today.
“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 a statement obtained by Fox News. “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.”
“This is difficult for me to write but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore,” he added. “I have loved my NFL career and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention.”
You can read his full statement here:
After the Buccaneers lost to the Los Angeles Rams last month in the divisional round, Brady made it clear that his family would play a major role in his decision about retiring.
Back in 2020, Brady admitted to Howard Stern that Bundchen had written him a letter in which she said she was unhappy in their marriage.
She went on to explain that she felt that Brady was spending too much time on football, and then all of his other time on business ventures, leaving no time for her and the children.
Related: Inside Tom Brady’s Long History With Donald Trump
While Brady continued his football career from there, fans appear to suspect that Bundchen continued pressuring him to retire until he finally did so:
As Brady continued his retirement statement, however, he did not appear to have any regrets about his decision:
“My playing career has been such a thrilling ride, and far beyond my imagination, and full of ups and downs. When you’re in it every day, you don’t really think about any kind of ending.
As I sit here now, however, I think of all the great players and coaches I was privileged to play with and against the competition was fierce and deep, JUST HOW WE LIKE IT. But the friendships and relationships are just as fierce and deep. I will remember and cherish these memories and revisit them often. I feel like the luckiest person in the world.”
Brady spent 20 years playing for the New England Patriots before moving to the Buccaneers two years ago.
His career is something that he will always be able to look back on with pride, and we hope he enjoys his well-deserved retirement years with his family!
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