Goodbye to The Goat: Tom Brady retires – and this time it’s ‘for good’

Tom Brady, aka NFL’s greatest ever quarterback, has announced his retirement from the game.

It’s of course not the first time ‘The Goat’ has retired from the sport, but the 45-year-old says this time it’s “for good”.

Brady first announced his retirement around this time last year but reversed his decision six weeks later, claiming he had "unfinished business", ESPN reported.

Brady was hoping to raise the Vince Lombardi trophy once again this season until his Tampa Bay Buccaneers were defeated in a wildcard playoff game by the Dallas Cowboys 31-14.

In his incredible 23-season career, he won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021.

"I'm retiring – for good," he said in an emotional video posted on social media. "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,” ESPN reported.

"It won't be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay and I used mine up last year."

"Thank you so much 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."

It brings to an end an incredible and incomparable career. Brady is the only player to win more than five Super Bowls and has been named Super Bowl MVP five times.

It won’t, however, be the last we see of Brady. Last year, the superstar signed a 10-year contract with Fox sports as a game analyst for a whopping $375 million. It’s understood that he can immediately start that position now, according to ESPN.

Brady has his hands in a few pies outside of the game too. He also launched a Brady brand clothing line one year ago, has a successful health and wellness brand called TB12 Sports, as well as his own production company, 199 Productions (a nod to his selection as the 199th overall pick in the 2000 NFL draft), ESPN reported.

When Brady first announced his retirement, he said it was to focus on his family commitments, but he finds himself in a different position this year as his wife and supermodel Gisele Bundchen finalized their divorce in September last year.

It ended a 13-year marriage between two superstars who respectively reached the pinnacles of football and fashion, Page Six detailed. 

While many believed Brady would make the transition into coaching, it appears that’s off the cards, with Brady telling “Coaching wouldn't be for me,” Brady said on the Let’s Go podcast, as reported by insidehook.com in November 2022. “No, certainly not. I like playing. I wouldn't be a good coach”

Whether it’s broadcasting or business interests, there’s no doubt that Tom Brady will throw himself into his new life with the same passion he brought to the field in the last 23 years.

 Just a day before he revealed his retirement, Brady said at a premiere for his film 80 For Brady: "That's what life is about. You got to wake up every day with a purpose,” Sky Sports reported. "And when you find something you love to do, it's hard to stop."