Tom Brady’s ex-wife, Gisele Bundchen, shared a sweet message with him on social media following the news he would be returning again – and “for good” – as he said in a recent video.
Brady and Bundchen were married for 13 of the G.O.A.T. quarterback’s 23 years in the NFL. Many rumors swirled surrounding their divorce last summer as being related to Brady’s preference to unretire and return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for one final season.
“Wishing you only wonderful things in this new chapter of your life,” Bündchen commented underneath her ex-husband’s video announcing his retirement.
In the video, shared to Instagram and viewed millions of times, Brady stressed that he really was done this time. He infused moments of humor and emotion in publicly relaying his decision.
Truly grateful on this day. Thank you 🙏🏻❤️ pic.twitter.com/j2s2sezvSS
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) February 1, 2023
“I’m retiring — for good. 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. So, I won’t be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay and I used mine up last year,” Brady said..
“I really thank you guys so much, to every single one of you for supporting me. My family, my friends, my teammates, my competitors… I can go on forever. There’s too many. Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn’t change a thing,” he continued.
Tom Brady, 45, will go down as inarguably the greatest and most successful quarterback in NFL history. His 7 Super Bowl victories are second to none, and he leaves the gridiron ranked first in both passing yards and passing touchdowns.
ESPN wrote of Brady’s professional accomplishments:
Brady, who won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and one with the Buccaneers, ends his career as the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards (89,214) and touchdown passes (649). The three-time league MVP passed for 4,694 yards — third most in the NFL — and 25 touchdowns this past season, his third with Tampa Bay.
Brady is the only player to win more than five Super Bowls and has been MVP of the game five times.
As just one reference point for Brady’s almost-impossible-to-replicate success, when Dan Marino retired about two decades ago with records in passing yards and touchdowns, he did so with “just” over 60,000 yards and 420 touchdowns.
Brady smashed those numbers, and given his insane tenure behind center, it is likely we will never see a figure like him compete on the field.
No doubt, though, the news that Brady is done is a welcome relief to both him, his family, and his teammates. Prior to learning of his retirement, several players urged him to spend more time with his kids. One, Buffalo’s Jonathan Poyer, released a heart-felt statement on his podcast.
“Tom, you know I love you, and I feel like I’ve been riding for you all year. Early on — you can go back to my podcast — I said, ‘You can’t count Tom out.’ … And sure as s—, he made the playoffs. You did everything you could’ve did in this league.”
"Go be with your kids, Tom"
—@J_poyer21 has a message for @TomBrady pic.twitter.com/UNWmv0F79H
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) January 18, 2023
As far as Brady’s future, no one need worry about his financial situation. Brady retires having earned hundreds of millions of dollars on the field and from endorsements. What’s more, last summer he signed a contract with Fox Sports, which will pay him more than he even earned from his NFL deals. ESPN continued:
[…]Brady can immediately begin working as analyst for Fox Sports, who signed him to a 10-year, $375 million contract this past summer. He also launched a BRADY brand clothing line one year ago, has a successful health and wellness brand called TB12 Sports and he founded his own production company, 199 Productions — a nod to his selection as the 199th overall pick in the 2000 NFL draft.
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