Tom Brady doesn't rule out a possible NFL comeback after retiring

Not even a week after he formally announced his retirement from the NFL, Tom Brady already is dropping hints of a possible comeback.

On Monday during the "Let's Go!" SiriusXM podcast, Jim Gray asked Brady if there was a possibility of coming out of retirement.

Brady left the door open for a possible NFL return.

"I'm just gonna take things as they come," Brady said. "I think that's the best way to put it and I don't think anything, you know, you never say never. At the same time I know that I'm very, I feel very good about my decision. I don't know how I'll feel six months from now.

"I try to make the best possible decision I can in the moment, which I did this last week. And, again, I think it's not looking to reverse course, I'm definitely not looking to do that. But in the same time I think you have to be realistic that you never know what challenges there are gonna be in life. Again, I loved playing. I'm looking forward to doing things other than playing. That's as honest as I can be."

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Last Monday on the "Let's Go!" podcast, Brady sidestepped questions about retirement. The following morning, Brady officially announced his retirement.

The 44-year-old Brady led the NFL in passing yards (5,316) and passing touchdowns (43) during the 2021 season, with his final game being an NFC divisional playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Brady is the NFL's all-time leader in many statistical categories, most notably career passing milestones such as touchdowns, yards and completions. He played 22 seasons in the NFL, 20 for the New England Patriots and two for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady won three league MVP awards and his seven Super Bowl wins are more than any NFL franchise has accumulated.

If Brady does in fact "reverse course," this situation would be reminiscent to when Brett Favre retired for the first time following the 2007 season, only to unretire months later. However, the Buccaneers don't have a hand-picked successor waiting in the wings like the Green Bay Packers of 2008 had in Aaron Rodgers.

Tom Brady: Legendary NFL quarterback still mulling retirement | CNN

CNN —

Tom Brady, arguably the greatest NFL quarterback of all time and a seven-time Super Bowl winner, said Monday on his podcast that he has made no decision yet on retiring from football.

Over the weekend, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeff Darlington and The Boston Globe, had reported that Brady was retiring, citing unnamed sources.

But on Sunday, a source familiar with the situation told CNN that “Brady contacted (Tampa Bay) Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht (on Saturday) to inform him he has yet to make a final decision about his future.”

ESPN first reported Brady was retiring, citing unnamed sources. The Boston Globe reported an NFL source confirmed the news.

Brady had not commented on the reports until Monday.

“You know, it’s a good week for me and I’m still just going through the process that I said I was going through,” he told sportscaster Jim Gray on their SiriusXM “Let’s Go!” podcast. “Sometimes, it just takes some time to really evaluate how you feel and what you want to do and I think when the time’s right I’ll be ready to make a decision one way or the other just like I said last week.”

Brady just wrapped up his 22nd season in the NFL and second with the Bucs.

When Tampa Bay, the defending Super Bowl champion, lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round on January 23, Brady said he would take the decision on his professional football future “day-by-day.”

Brady said Monday it’s still a day-to-day process and that he will be the one to announce his future plans when it’s time.

“I understand that my decision affects a lot of people’s lives so when that decision comes, it’ll come,” he said, adding he wasn’t going to “race to some conclusion.”

When asked whether the media reports would be motivation for him to return for another season, Brady chuckled and said he was motivated to win and be successful.

“And maybe there’s little parts of motivation that come from different places or what people may say or think but I’m mostly motivated from inside and wanting to be the best for my teammates and my coaches and my organization,” he said.

The NFL tweeted its gratitude Saturday for his accomplishments, referring to Brady as GOAT – Greatest Of All Time – with the hashtag #ThankYouTom and an illustration of the quarterback wearing his Super Bowl rings. Another NFL tweet read, “Nobody did it better.”

Along with the league offering its best wishes, athletes from Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to Brooklyn Nets star James Harden tweeted goat emojis.

“Thanks for the memories, babe,” former Patriots teammate Julian Edelman tweeted.

“Hell of a run!,” wrote Bucs cornerback and teammate Richard Sherman. “Honor to share the field with you.”

Brady’s record-setting career

Brady is considered by many NFL observers to be the greatest quarterback of all time, having led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles and the Bucs to one. No quarterback has thrown for more touchdowns, more yards or won more playoff games than Brady. He has also played in and won more regular-season games in his career than any other quarterback.

Brady is a 44-year-old father of three who has been married to supermodel Gisele Bündchen since 2009. They have two children, a 12-year-old son and a 9-year-old daughter. Brady has a 14-year-old son from a prior relationship with actress Bridget Moynahan.

Last Monday, Brady told the SiriusXM “Let’s Go!” Podcast that Bündchen and his children would be at the heart of any choice he made.

“The biggest difference now that I’m older is I have kids now too, and I care about them a lot as well,” Brady told Jim Gray.

“They’ve been my biggest supporters. My wife is my biggest supporter, it pains her to see me get hit out there.

“She deserves what she needs from me as a husband and my kids deserve what they need from me as a dad.”

Taken by the Patriots with the 199th pick of the 2000 NFL Draft, Brady wasn’t meant to be the starting quarterback; the Patriots already had three-time Pro Bowl selection Drew Bledsoe. The Boston Herald reported Patriots Coach Bill Belichick said they took Brady because he was the highest-rated player still available in the sixth round.

“He’s a good, tough quarterback who played at a high level of competition (at the University of Michigan),” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “We’ll put him out there with everyone else and let him compete and see what happens.”

After Brady had a good training camp and preseason, the Patriots made the rare move of keeping him as a fourth-string quarterback.

He moved up the depth chart and in the second game of Brady’s second season Bledsoe suffered a severe injury when he was slammed to the ground in a game.

When Brady took over, the Patriots were coming off a losing season and had struggled in two losses to open the 2001 season.

Tom Brady holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl win in February 2021. Ben Liebenberg/AP Brady played college football at the University of Michigan. He started for the Wolverines in his junior and senior seasons, going 20-5. Peter Read Miller/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images Brady grew up in San Mateo, California, and played football, basketball and baseball before joining Michigan. Jamie Squire/Allsport/Getty Images Despite his successful career at Michigan, Brady was not projected to be a star in the NFL. He was the 199th player taken in the NFL Draft. Many quarterbacks were taken before him. Pro Football Hall of Fame/AP Brady started his career backing up Drew Bledsoe. But when Bledsoe was hurt in September 2001, Brady got his chance to shine. He took over as starter and led the Patriots all the way to the Super Bowl. Winslow Townson/AP Brady loses the ball after being hit by Oakland's Charles Woodson during an NFL playoff game in January 2002. The Patriots got the ball back and went on to win the game, but the controversial play was heavily debated in the offseason. The "tuck rule" was eventually repealed in 2013. Jim Davis/The Boston Globe/Getty Images The 2001 season culminated in a Super Bowl victory for Brady and the Patriots in February 2002. They upset the heavily favored St. Louis Rams 20-17. Brady was named Super Bowl MVP, and he became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl. He was 24. Jim Davis/The Boston Globe/Getty Images Brady and the Patriots were back in the Super Bowl in 2004, winning another title over the Carolina Panthers. They repeated the next season with a Super Bowl win over Philadelphia. Jeff Gross/Getty Images Brady and Patriots coach Bill Belichick celebrate after a playoff win in January 2007. The two were together for Brady's entire Patriots career. Kirby Lee/Getty Images Brady throws a pass during a game in Cincinnati in October 2007. Andy Lyons/Getty Images Brady is surrounded by the media in 2007. The Patriots went undefeated in the regular season but lost to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. Stephan Savoia/AP New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck strips the ball from Brady during the Super Bowl in February 2008. Chris O'Meara/AP Brady leaves the field in 2012 after another Super Bowl loss to the Giants. Jim Davis/The Boston Globe/Getty Images Brady kisses his mother, Galynn, after the Patriots defeated Seattle for their fourth Super Bowl title in February 2015. David J. Phillip/AP An opposing fan taunts Brady as he takes the field in August 2015. Brady was eventually suspended four games over the "Deflategate" controversy, which involved allegations that the Patriots purposely deflated balls to gain an advantage on offense in an AFC Championship game. Grant Halverson/Getty Images Brady runs onto the field before a game in September 2015. Jim Rogash/Getty Images Brady drops back to pass during a game against Dallas in October 2015. Christian Petersen/Getty Images Brady arrives at a federal court to appeal his suspension for "Deflategate." Andrew Burton/Getty Images Brady is tackled by Denver's Aqib Talib in the AFC Championship game in January 2016. Christian Petersen/Getty Images Brady raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy after leading the Patriots to their fifth Super Bowl victory in 2017. The Patriots were trailing 28-3 before pulling off the biggest Super Bowl comeback ever and winning in overtime. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Teammate Rob Gronkowski playfully steals Brady's jersey before a Boston Red Sox baseball game in April 2017. Brady had just had his Super Bowl jersey returned by authorities after it had been stolen from the locker room. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Brady and his wife, model Gisele Bundchen, attend the Met Gala in New York in 2018. The couple married in 2009. Ray Tamarra/GC Images/Getty Images Brady celebrates after an overtime win in January 2019 that put that Patriots in the Super Bowl. Jeff Roberson/AP Brady celebrates with his daughter, Vivian, and his wife, Gisele, after winning his sixth Super Bowl in 2019. In October 2022, Brady and Bundchen announced that they had divorced after 13 years of marriage. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Brady leads his team onto the field before a game against the New York Jets in 2019. Al Bello/Getty Images Brady's last game with the Patriots was a playoff loss to Tennessee in January 2020. Greg M. Cooper/USA Today Sports Pro golfer Phil Mickelson reads a putt for Brady as they team up for a made-for-TV charity match in May 2020. Mickelson and Brady lost a close match to Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images for The Match Brady throws a pass during a game against Carolina in September 2020. Brady finished the regular season with 40 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions as the Buccaneers went 11-5. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees congratulates Brady after the Buccaneers defeated Brees' Saints in an NFL playoff game in January 2021. It was the first playoff game in NFL history to feature two starting quarterbacks in their 40s. Both players occupy the top two spots for many of the league's quarterback records. Butch Dill/AP Brady celebrates with his teammates in January 2021 after Tampa Bay defeated Green Bay to win the NFC and clinch a spot in the Super Bowl. Jeffrey Phelps/AP Brady celebrates at the end of the Buccaneers' win over Kansas City in Super Bowl LV. He was named the game's Most Valuable Player. Ben Liebenberg/AP Brady throws the Vince Lombardi Trophy to teammates as they celebrate their title during a boat parade in Tampa, Florida, in February 2021. Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers President Joe Biden laughs at a joke made by Brady, who was visiting the White House along with his Tampa Bay teammates in July 2021. One of Brady's jokes was about those who continue to deny that Biden won the 2020 election. "Not a lot of people think that we could have won (the Super Bowl). In fact, I think about 40% of people still don't think we won. You understand that, Mr. President?" Brady said to laughter. Biden responded, "I understand that." Drew Angerer/Getty Images Brady runs off the field after the Buccaneers defeated his former team, the New England Patriots, in October 2021. It was Brady's first game back in New England since he left the franchise in 2020. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Brady throws a pass during a playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams in January 2022. The Rams eliminated the Buccaneers 30-27. Kim Klement/USA Today Sports Brady walks off the field after the playoff loss to the Rams. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images In pictures: NFL legend Tom Brady Prev Next

But the young quarterback led them to 11 wins in their last 14 regular-season games and on to Super Bowl XXXVI. There the Patriots beat the St. Louis Rams on a last-second field goal after Brady completed five passes on the game-winning drive. It was the first of five times he would be selected as Most Valuable Player in the game.

The Patriots added Vince Lombardi trophies in 2004, 2005, 2015, 2017 and 2019.

His best season might have been in 2007 when the Patriots went undefeated in the regular season as Brady threw for a then-record 50 touchdowns and completed a league-high 68.9% of his passes. But the New York Giants upset the Patriots in one of the most exciting Super Bowls ever, one of three NFL title games Brady didn’t win.

Brady’s last season was filled with gaudy numbers, too: 5,316 yards passing and 43 touchdowns. While Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the overwhelming favorite to win the MVP award, Brady is the likely runner-up. Whoever wins will be MVP for the fourth time in his career.

Tom Brady retires: Legendary QB walks away from NFL as the GOAT

The greatest to ever do it is walking away.

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer and New England Patriot quarterback Tom Brady officially announced his retirement Tuesday morning, just one day after he said he was contemplating his options.

Brady, 44, has played in the league half his life, with 22 full seasons to his name, two of which came with Tampa Bay after he left New England after the 2019 season.

Brady now walks away with a commanding grip on several NFL records, many of which — at first blush — would appear to be impossible to reach. Perhaps the most impressive of those relate to his success, and his teams’ successes, in the postseason. Brady started 24 conference championship games or Super Bowls in his career. Simply put, he dominated the league.

"This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore," Brady said Tuesday in the post that announced his retirement. "I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention.

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"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% of me, but right now, it's best I leave the field of play to the next generation of dedicated and committed athletes."

Here's everything we know about the G.O.A.T. walking away:

How did Tom Brady decide to retire?

On Saturday, USA TODAY Sports’ Mike Jones confirmed that Brady would be announcing his impending retirement. Brady, after the Buccaneers were eliminated from the playoffs in a 30-27 loss in the divisional round against the Los Angeles Rams, deflected on questions about his future, saying: "I haven’t put a lot of thought into it."

Brady's comments about his future, however, had notably softened from previous seasons, when he had said in no uncertain terms that he would be back and looked to play well into his mid-40s. After the loss against the Rams, Brady cited his family as an important factor in determining his future.

On Monday, in an appearance on the "Let's Go" podcast with Jim Gray, Brady said he was still contemplating his next steps and added: "I'm not going to race to some conclusion on that."

Then, just hours after that podcast published, Brady posted his announcement Tuesday morning on his social media channels and thanked former teammates, executives, coaches and fans in a lengthy statement. He also took the opportunity to thank his family for their support throughout his career.

ESPN had been the first outlet to report Saturday on Brady’s impending retirement.

Why did Tom Brady retire?

With increasing frequency, Brady has mentioned that his family and a desire to spend more time with them would be one of the main reasons why he would walk away. The recent increase of transparency in his thinking, alone, pointed to a rare glimpse into his human side.

His reasons for leaving New England had, in part, a lot to do with the grueling grind that comes with preparing for an NFL season and weekly games. While he found a more relaxed approach in Tampa Bay under coach Bruce Arians, preparing for opponents and seasons is still taxing. After 22 seasons, he has accomplished all there is to accomplish in the sport.

Brady has also ventured into several successful business and media ventures, not limited to his health, wellness and recovery brand TB 12 Sports, in partnership with personal trainer and friend Alex Guerrero. Now that he won't have to game plan and practice, he's expected to give those ventures more time.

"The future is exciting," Brady said in his retirement announcement before citing three companies that he cofounded and would look to continue to grow. "As I said earlier, I am going to take it day by day. I know for sure I want to spend a lot of time giving to others and trying to enrich other people's lives, just as so many have done for me."

What will Tom Brady's legacy be?

Undoubtedly, it will be as the greatest quarterback — and player — of all time. It's not just the poise and methodical approach he took toward seeking competitive advantages, it's the metronomic consistency he embodied when he played. In fact, his retirement announcement alone is sending ripples across the league that he dominated.

But, on the business side of things, Brady also provided a blueprint for player empowerment. He sought independent treatments for his body that he felt were in his best interests. It's hard to argue with the results. He focused on pliability and healthy eating and became a paradigm of dependability, even into his mid-40s. He was an advocate for improvements in player rights and asserting more control over offseason workout practices. And, in his departure from the Patriots, he also showed the importance of wielding agency and control in player movements.

Brady even controlled the narrative in the media over the final seasons of his career, launching several video stories in which he directed what information got out, and how.

Much of this can be traced all the way back to his days in Ann Arbor, as the University of Michigan quarterback who just happened to get selected in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft.

What are others saying about Tom Brady?

Tributes have poured in from all corners of the NFL and sporting world. Former Patriots teammates shared their favorite Tom Brady stories.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Brady "made everyone around him better and always seemed to rise to the occasion in the biggest moments." Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians called it "an honor" just to coach him.

Said Patriots owner Robert Kraft: "Words cannot describe the feelings I have for Tom Brady, nor adequately express the gratitude my family, the New England Patriots and our fans have for Tom for all he did during his career."

"I have always admired & respected his competitiveness, his dedication, his discipline, and his commitment to being the best," friend and former competitor Peyton Manning said.

What are Tom Brady’s statistical accomplishments?

As mentioned above, Brady will likely be untouchable for several NFL records in the decades to come — if not for the rest of the league’s history.

To start with some of the more notable ones, Brady walks away with the NFL record for most career passing yards in both the regular season (84,520) and the playoffs (13,049). He also has thrown for more touchdowns (624) than anyone.

He has NFL records for most Super Bowl appearances (10), victories (seven), Super Bowl Most Valuable Player awards (five).

The list goes on and on. We took a look at some of Brady’s more interesting stats here.

What's next for the NFL (and the Buccaneers)?

There will never be another Tom Brady. He's the product of a perfect storm of talent, drive and franchise stability. Still, there's a crop of young passers who might come close.

The Bucs will now need to find Brady's replacement and have some decisions to make about a roster that is still talented, but will look very different. Backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert is set to hit free agency, so he may be on the move. That leaves third-string passer Kyle Trask, a second-round rookie Tampa selected in the 2021 draft, as the only quarterback currently left on the roster.

Tom Brady hints at retirement as Gisele Bündchen says she has ...

CNN —

Tom Brady remarked on his latest podcast appearance that he is “close to the end” of his NFL career as he continued to hint at his retirement.

Brady, now 45 years old, has had a tumultuous offseason, retiring in February only to later reverse that decision. In the midst of August’s training camp, Brady took an 11-day leave of absence to “deal with personal things,” according to his head coach Todd Bowles.

Last week, Brady said: “As you get older, life changes quite a bit. There’s different responsibilities that take form in your life. There’s different perspectives you gain.”

The seven-time Super Bowl champion, speaking on his regularly scheduled ‘Let’s Go!’ podcast with co-host Jim Gray on Tuesday, said that he is “feeling more than things in the past for some reason” as he competes in his 23rd NFL season.

Brady prepares to take the field for the Bucs against the Cowboys. Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

“I’m just really feeling intensely my emotions,” the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback told Gray. “And I feel like I always have that, but I think when you get close to the end – and I don’t know exactly where I’m at with that, but there’s no decision to be made, it’s not like I have 10 years left, I definitely don’t have that.

“All these, I’m just never going to take for granted. The only time it really slapped me in the face to say: ‘Don’t take this for granted’ was when I got injured with my knee. And after that, I came back and said: ‘Winning’s great. I love winning and I hated losing, and I still do, but even if you lose and you walk off the field healthy, there’s something to be gained from it.’ The part is, if you get injured and you can’t be there with your team, that’s really where it gets mentally challenging and emotionally challenging.”

Brady and the Bucs opened the new season with a comfortable 19-3 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.

Although Brady said that there is a “simplicity to life when you’re in the football season because there’s a rhythm to it,” he explained waking up on Monday morning the day after a win with bruises and cuts on his arm. “Holy s**t, there were a few hits,” he said.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws a pass in the fourth quarter of the AFC Championship against the Cincinnati Bengals. Mahomes led his team to a 23-20 victory. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick causes San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy to fumble during the NFC Championship. It was the Niners' first offensive drive and Purdy injured his elbow on the play. He left the game until the third quarter, when his backup Josh Johnson suffered a concussion. The Eagles won 31-7. Seth Wenig/AP Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase and running back Joe Mixon motion for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the third quarter. Both Chase and Mixon had TDs as the Bengals convincingly beat the Bills 27-10 to advance to the AFC Championship game. Joshua Bessex/AP Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson celebrates an interception late in the fourth quarter of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes appearing to suffer a serious ankle injury, Kansas City was able to beat the Jaguars 27-20 to advance to play the Bengals. Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire/AP George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers catches a pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter. The 49ers' defense -- which picked off Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott twice -- helped stymie Dallas in a 19-12 victory to move San Francisco to the NFC Championship game. Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones loses the ball while under pressure by Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat. The Eagles thoroughly dominated the Giants, winning 38-7, to advance to play the 49ers in the NFC Championship game. Chris Szagola/AP Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott rushes the ball for a touchdown against Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Akiem Hicks in the first half. Prescott accounted for five touchdowns -- one rushing and four passing -- in the Cowboys' 31-14 victory over the Bucs to set up a clash against the San Francisco 49ers in the next round of the playoffs. Kim Klement/Reuters Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence celebrates on the field after completing a massive comeback against the Los Angeles Chargers. Lawrence threw four interceptions -- and also four touchdowns -- as he led the Jaguars back from 27-0 down in the first half to beat the Chargers 31-30 thanks to a last-second field goal. Kevin Sabitus/AP Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley loses the ball as it is knocked away by Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson. Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard picked up the fumble and returned it for a 98-yard touchdown in a game-changing moment in Cincinnati's 24-17 victory. Darron Cummings/AP Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir grabs a pass against Miami Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou. Despite playing with third-string quarterback Skylar Thompson, the Dolphins almost shocked the Bills but came up just short, turning the ball over on downs on Miami's final possession of the game as they lost 34-31. The Bills will now face the Bengals for the first time since Bills safety Damar Hamlin's on-field collapse brought a game between the two teams to a halt and set off a national outpouring of support. Adrian Kraus/AP The Minnesota Vikings' Eric Kendricks tackles New York Giants wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins. The Giants shocked the No. 3 seed 31-24 largely thanks to an excellent performance from quarterback Daniel Jones. The 25-year-old finished with 301 passing yards and two touchdowns, as well as 78 rushing yards. Abbie Parr/AP San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle celebrates after scoring a two-point conversion against the Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers used a big second half to break away from a plucky Seahawks squad and win 41-23. It continues the remarkable run of rookie 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy -- who threw for three touchdowns -- who was drafted with the final pick of last year's NFL draft. Jed Jacobsohn/AP Buffalo Bills running back Nyheim Hines scores a touchdown on a kickoff return during the first half against the New England Patriots. Hines' touchdown -- his first of two against New England -- came in the Bills' first play since Damar Hamlin collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest. Joshua Bessex/AP Fans hold a sign in support of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin during the second half of the game against the New England Patriots. On Sunday, a source told CNN that the Bills safety had shown continued progress with his recovery after his cardiac arrest and on-field collapse and expects to be released from the hospital in the coming days. Jeffrey T. Barnes/AP Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Kadarius Toney catches a touchdown against Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Luke Masterson during the fourth quarter at Allegiant Stadium. With the emphatic 31-13 victory, the Chiefs clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC and a bye for the first round of the playoffs. Jeff Bottari/Getty Images The Seattle Seahawks celebrate an interception by Quandre Diggs against the Los Angeles Rams in overtime at Lumen Field. Thanks to their 19-16 win and the Green Bay Packers' defeat later in the day, the Seahawks claimed a wildcard spot in the NFC playoffs. Steph Chambers/Getty Images Indianapolis Colts fans sit in the stands wearing sad face paper bag masks during a game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Colts lost their last seven games of the season -- including Sunday's 32-31 defeat to the Texans -- to finish 4-12-1 for the season, leaving them with the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL draft. Robert Scheer/USA Today Sports/Reuters Quez Watkins of the Philadelphia Eagles stiff-arms the New York Giants' Nick McCloud during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Eagles star quarterback Jalen Hurts returned to the line-up on Sunday and helped the team to a 22-16 win over the Giants, clinching the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. Mitchell Leff/Getty Images The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers kneel in prayer for Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin before playing on December 8. The Steelers would go on to win 28-14. Matt Freed/AP Buffalo Bills players react after teammate Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field during the first quarter of the Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin was administered CPR before being transported off the field in an ambulance. Joseph Maiorana/USA Today Sports/Reuters Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady celebrates after scoring a rushing touchdown against Carolina on Sunday, January 1. The Buccaneers clinched a postseason berth — and their second straight NFC South title — with a 30-24 win. Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey rumbles into the end zone against Las Vegas on January 1. McCaffrey and the Niners won 37-34 in overtime. John Locher/AP Philadelphia quarterback Gardner Minshew, making his second start in place of injured Jalen Hurts, passes against New Orleans on January 1. The Eagles lost 20-10 but still have a chance to clinch home-field advantage in next week's regular season finale. Matt Slocum/AP Kendrick Bourne of the New England Patriots catches a touchdown over Cam Taylor-Britt of the Cincinnati Bengals during the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium on December 24. The Bengals won 22-18. Winslow Townson/Getty Images Atlanta Falcons center Drew Dalman prepares to snap the ball during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens at the M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens won 17-9. Tommy Gilligan/USA Today Sports Rachaad White of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stretches across the goal line for a touchdown as Marco Wilson of the Arizona Cardinals defends during the fourth quarter. The Bucs won 19-16. Christian Petersen/Getty Images Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (28) is tackled during the second half of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers won 13-10. Don Wright/AP Michael Gallup of the Dallas Cowboys is unable to make a catch in the end zone under pressure from James Bradberry of the Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys won 40-34. Sam Hodde/Getty Images Minnesota Vikings place kicker Greg Joseph celebrates his game-winning field goal against the Indianapolis Colts. The Vikings rallied from a 33-point deficit at halftime to defeat the Colts 39-36, completing the largest comeback in NFL history. Matt Krohn/USA Today/Reuters Jamal Agnew of the Jacksonville Jaguars attempts to catch a pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half. The Cowboys lost 40-34 in overtime after Rayshawn Jenkins' 52-yard interception was returned for a touchdown. Mike Carlson/Getty Images Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals is sacked by Lavonte David of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Burrow threw four touchdowns as the Bengals overcame a 17-point deficit to beat Tom Brady and the Bucs 34-23. Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images Mac Jones of the New England Patriots reacts after losing to the Las Vegas Raiders 30-24. A crazy ending to the game between the teams ended with the Patriots suffering a damaging defeat in their hopes to reach the playoffs. Chris Unger/Getty Images Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku reaches for a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, December 11. It was Deshaun Watson's first touchdown pass for the Browns since returning from an 11-game suspension over sexual misconduct allegations. Despite the touchdown, the Bengals won 23-10. Jeff Dean/AP Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams catches a pass against Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard on December 11. The Chargers won 23-17. Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today Sports/Reuters San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy celebrates after running for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 11. The rookie also threw for two touchdowns in the 35-7 blowout win Jed Jacobsohn/AP Kansas City Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon dives for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos on December 11. McKinnon scored two receiving touchdowns in the game, and the Chiefs won 34-28. Ron Chenoy/USA Today Sports/Reuters Green Bay Packers' Christian Watson celebrates as he crosses the goal line after catching a touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers during the second half of a game against the Chicago Bears on December 4. Watson had two touchdowns in the Packers' 28-19 victory over the Bears. Charles Rex Arbogast/AP Miami Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold hurdles over San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw during the first half of the teams' game. The 49ers, despite losing starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a season-ending injury early on, beat the Dolphins 33-17. Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Mack Hollins goes upside down on a reception during the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Raiders eventually beat the Chargers 27-20, largely thanks to a monster afternoon for star wide receiver Davante Adams, who finished with 177 receiving yards and two touchdowns. David Becker/AP Cincinnati Bengals running back Chris Evans runs in for a touchdown past Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis in the second half. Behind two touchdown passes from Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Cincinnati beat the Chiefs 27-24. Jeff Dean/AP New York Jets QB Mike White celebrates after beating the Chicago Bears 31-10 at MetLife Stadium on November 27. White had a monster afternoon, throwing for 315 yards and three touchdowns. Mike Stobe/Getty Images Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. makes the game-winning touchdown catch with 18 seconds left against Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters during the second half of their game in Week 12. Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Two sides of the coin... Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota and Washington Commanders defensive end Montez Sweat react to Mariota's second half interception on November 27. Washington won the game 19-13. Patrick Semansky/AP New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill is tackled by San Francisco 49ers defensive end Samson Ebukam, linebacker Fred Warner and defensive tackle Kevin Givens in the second half on November 27. The 49ers would go on to shut out the Saints 13-0 to move to 7-4 on the year. Jed Jacobsohn/AP Dallas' Peyton Hendershot, right, celebrates a touchdown with teammates inside a big Salvation Army kettle during the Cowboys' Thanksgiving Day win over the New York Giants on Thursday, November 24. Tony Gutierrez/AP Buffalo wide receiver Stefon Diggs digs into a turkey leg after the Bills defeated Detroit on Thanksgiving Day. Lon Horwedel/USA Today Sports Ahead of their game against the Las Vegas Raiders on November 20, Denver Broncos staff members and fans observe a moment of silence for victims of an attack at a Colorado Springs LGBTQ nightclub late Saturday. A gunman entered the Club Q nightclub and opened fire, killing at least 5 people and injuring 19 others, police said. Jack Dempsey/AP Atlanta Falcons running back Cordarrelle Patterson sets a personal record by running back a kick-return 103 yards for a touchdown in front of his home crowd. Patterson now has nine kickoff return touchdowns, the most in NFL history. The Falcons would go on to beat the Chicago Bears 27-24. John Bazemore/AP Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott celebrates a touchdown with running back Tony Pollard in the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at US Bank Stadium. The Cowboys (7-3) demolished the previously Vikings (8-2) 40-3 on the road in an astonishing performance. Brace Hemmelgarn/USA Today/Reuters New England Patriots fans celebrate as cornerback Marcus Jones scores an 84-yard punt return in the final 30 seconds of the game to give the Pats a 10-3 win over division rivals, the New York Jets. Steven Senne/AP Justin Jefferson catches arguably the pass of the year in front of the Bills' Cam Lewis during the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo. Jefferson had a monster afternoon — finishing with 10 catches, 193 receiving yards and a touchdown — as the Vikings stunned the Bills 33-30 in overtime to go to 8-1 on the year. Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady keeps on making history. Brady and the Bucs beat the Seattle Seahawks 21-16 in the NFL's first regular season game in Germany. With the victory, the seven-time Super Bowl champion became the first QB to win an NFL game in three different countries outside of the US. He had previously won in the UK and in Mexico. Gary McCullough/AP Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields evades Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph as he runs for a 67-yard touchdown. Fields ran for 147 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn't enough as the Bears lost 31-30 to the Lions. Charles Rex Arbogast/AP Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson celebrates with fans after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys. The rookie caught three touchdowns as the Packers ended a five-game losing streak to beat the Cowboys 31-28 in overtime. Matt Ludtke/AP Miami Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold scores a touchdown in the first quarter of the game against the Cleveland Browns at Hard Rock Stadium. Miami beat the Browns 39-17, extending its winning run to four games, behind three touchdown passes from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Eric Espada/Getty Images Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen scores a first quarter touchdown against the New York Jets, but the Bills' fast start wasn't enough though, as the Jets fought back and were able to record a huge victory over their high-flying division rivals, 20-17. Robert Deutsch/USA Today/Reuters Joe Mixon scores a touchdown for the Cincinnati Bengals during the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers. Mixon scored five TDs in the 42-21 win over the Panthers, breaking the Bengals' record for the most touchdowns in a single game. Andy Lyons/Getty Images Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Brandon Powell is acrobatically tackled by Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Genard Avery during the first half of their game at Raymond James Stadium. Bucs quarterback Tom Brady threw a one-yard touchdown to tight end Cade Otton with 13 seconds left to complete a 16-13 comeback victory over the reigning Super Bowl champions. Mark LoMoglio/AP Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams catches a pass for a touchdown while being tightly defended by Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell. Despite another excellent afternoon for Adams — finishing with 146 receiving yards and two touchdowns — the Raiders were beaten 27-20 by the Jags. Gary McCullough/AP Green Bay Packers wide receiver Samori Toure is tackled by Detroit Lions safety Will Harris. The Packers lost their fourth straight game, losing to the Lions 15-9, as Aaron Rodgers threw three interceptions on the day. Paul Sancya/AP Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown catches a 29-yard touchdown pass against Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Brown caught three touchdown passes as the Eagles remained undefeated with a 35-13 victory over the Steelers to move to 7-0 for the season. Eric Hartline/USA Today/Reuters San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey throws a touchdown pass to Brandon Aiyuk against the Los Angeles Rams. McCaffrey equaled a rare record in the 49ers 31-14 victory, becoming the first NFL player since Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson in 2005 to have a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in a game. Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images DeAndre Hopkins make an amazing one-handed catch to reel in a touchdown for the Arizona Cardinals against the Minnesota Vikings. Hopkins' excellent display, finishing with the touchdown and 159 receiving yards, wasn't enough though as the Cardinals lost 34-26 to the Vikings. Adam Bettcher/Getty Images Dallas Cowboys' Micah Parsons celebrates his fumble recovery and touchdown run during the second half against the Chicago Bears. The Cowboys dominated the Bears, winning 49-29, with running back Tony Pollard scoring three rushing touchdowns. Ron Jenkins/AP New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara stretches across the goal line for a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Saints shut out the Raiders, intercepting quarterback Derek Carr once, on the way to a 24-0 win. Rusty Costanza/AP Atlanta Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo is congratulated by teammates after kicking the game-winning field goal in overtime against the Carolina Panthers. Regular time ended in dramatic fashion after Panthers quarterback PJ Walker completed a huge Hail Mary touchdown pass to tie the scores but kicker Eddy Pineiro missed two key kicks which would have given Carolina the victory. In the end, Koo's overtime field goal gave the Falcons the 37-34 victory. John Bazemore/AP New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones slides and accidentally kicks Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker in the groin. Later on in the drive, Brisker got his revenge though with an impressive one-handed interception — one of three picks on the evening for "Da Bears" in a 33-14 win for Chicago. Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase catches one of his two touchdowns on the afternoon over Atlanta Falcons cornerback Cornell Armstrong and safety Jaylinn Hawkins. The Bengals beat the Falcons 35-17 behind a monster performance from quarterback Joe Burrow, who threw 34-for-42 for 481 yards and three touchdowns. Jeff Dean/AP It was tough times for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tom Brady on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Brady — sacked here by Panthers defensive end Brian Burns — and the Bucs failed to score a touchdown in a 21-3 loss to Carolina to send Tampa Bay to 3-4 on the year. Despite the loss, the Bucs are still first place in the lowly NFC South. Scott Kinser/CSM/ZUMA Press/AP Seattle Seahawks receiver Marquise Goodwin makes an amazing catch for a touchdown in the first half of a 37-23 win against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Goodwin made four catches for 67 yards and two TDs on the day. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP All eyes might have been focused on quarterback Dak Prescott's return but Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott — here hurdling Detroit Lions safety DeShon Elliott — stole the show with two rushing TDs to help America's Team to a 24-6 win over Detroit. Ron Jenkins/AP Arizona Cardinals cornerback Marco Wilson leaps into the end zone as he returns an interception for a touchdown during a Thursday Night Football football game against the New Orleans Saints. The Arizona defense scored touchdowns on two pick-sixes late in the first half. Norm Hall/Getty Images Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen hurdles Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid as he scrambles for a first down. Allen's fourth quarter touchdown throw to Dawson Knox capped off a 24-20 victory against the Chiefs. Peter Aiken/Associated Press Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Parris Campbell stretches to get the ball over the pylon for a touchdown while defended by Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Darious Williams. The Colts beat their division rivals 34-27 thanks to a last-gasp touchdown from quarterback Matt Ryan to rookie Alec Pierce. Jenna Watson/USA TODAY New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley dives into the endzone to score a touchdown during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens. The Giants continued their excellent start to the season with a 24-20 win over the Ravens, improving their record to 5-1. Seth Wenig/Associated Press Chicago Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney makes catch under pressure from Washington Commanders cornerback Benjamin St-Juste just short of the goal line in the final minute of the second half. Mooney came within inches of securing a come-from-behind victory for the Bears, but eventually had to settle for a 12-7 loss after he was adjudged to have landed just short of a touchdown. Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press Gabe Davis of the Buffalo Bills makes a one-handed catch for a touchdown against Minkah Fitzpatrick of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium. The Bills dominated the Steelers 38-3 with Davis scoring two touchdowns on the day. Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images San Francisco 49ers cornerback Emmanuel Moseley scores a touchdown after having intercepted Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield. The 49ers emphatically beat the Panthers 37-15. Rusty Jones/AP New York Jets running back Breece Hall carries the ball down to the one-yard line against the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter. Hall rushed for a touchdown in the Jets' 40-17 demolishing of the Dolphins. His TD was one of the Jets' four rushing touchdowns as they dominated Miami on the ground. Adam Hunger/AP Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush celebrates with Dak Prescott after the team's 22-10 win against the Los Angeles Rams. Rush stepped in for starting quarterback Prescott in Week 2 after Prescott suffered a hand injury. Since then, the Cowboys have won four straight games. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson dives for a two-point conversion during the Vikings' 29-22 victory over the Chicago Bears. Brad Rempel/USA Today Sports New Orleans Saints utility player Taysom Hill breaks the tackle of Seattle Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs and runs to the endzone for a 60-yard rushing touchdown during the Saints' 39-32 victory. Hill ran for three touchdowns, as well as throwing for another, as the Saints ended a three-game losing streak. Gerald Herbert/AP Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is tripped up by Denver Broncos cornerback K'Waun Williams. It was a rare glimpse of offense in a lackluster 12-9 win for the Colts. David Zalubowski/AP A protester meets the full force of Los Angeles Rams defensive end Takkarist McKinley, left, and linebacker Bobby Wagner during the Monday night game against the San Francisco 49ers on October 3. "He looked like he wasn't supposed to be on the field," Wagner told reporters after the game. "I saw security was having a little problem -- so I helped him out." The 49ers went on to dominate the Rams behind a stout defense that had seven sacks and an interception, winning 24-9 to move to 2-2 on the season. Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP The Las Vegas Raiders earned their first win of the 2022 season when they beat the Denver Broncos 32-23 in front of their home crowd. The Raiders relied on a heavy run game, led by Josh Jacobs' 144 yards and two TDs on 28 carries. Abbie Parr/AP Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was taken off the field on a stretcher during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals, after suffering apparent head and neck injuries. The incident had a lot of fall out with the NFL beginning a review on allowing Tagovailoa to play, the Dolphins being criticized widely and the National Football League Players Association reportedly terminating the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant who was involved in the evaluation of Tagovailoa for a concussion during their game against the Buffalo Bills. Jeff Dean/AP Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray runs in a touchdown in the fourth against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on October 2 in Charlotte. Murray's TD was part of a fourth quarter flurry which saw the Cards pull away from the Panthers to go .500 on the year so far. Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is brought down by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Kyzir White in the second half of the Eagles' 29-21 win in Philly. The Eagles are now 4-0 after Week 4. Matt Slocum/AP Fireworks and pyrotechnics go off ahead of the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints clash in London — the NFL's 100th international game. The Vikings won the game when the Saints' "double doink" kick — when the ball hits two parts of the uprights on a scoring attempt — fell short and let Minnesota return to the US with the 28-25 win. Paul Childs/Action Images/Reuters The most bizarre incident of Week 3 occurred with the Miami Dolphins backed up in their own endzone. On their own one-yard line, needing to punt the ball away with restricted space available, punter Thomas Morstead kicked the ball off teammate Trent Sherfield's backside and out of bounds for a safety. Dubbed "butt punt" by many on social media, the flub ultimately didn't cost Miami as it won 21-19 over the Buffalo Bills. Jasen Vinlove/USA Today Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens makes a sensational, one-handed catch over Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. on September 22. Unfortunately for Pickens, the Steelers lost 29-17 after the Browns bounced back from an embarrassing Week 2 loss to the New York Jets. David Richard/AP Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Breshad Perriman fumbles after catching a pass during the first half against the Green Bay Packers in Week 3. The fumble was one of two lost by the Bucs on the day, helping the Packers win a tight affair, 14-12, in Tampa Bay. Chris O'Meara/AP Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa sits on the turf in the second quarter of Miami's game against the Buffalo Bills. Tagovailoa was tackled by Matt Milano and his head hit the ground, causing the Miami man to be taken into the locker room to be evaluated for a concussion. He eventually came back to lead the Dolphins to victory, but the NFLPA is initiating a review of the injury and medical evaluation. Megan Briggs/Getty Images Who knew Lions could fly? Detroit wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown soars over Minnesota Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson to pick up a first down at the two-yard line in the first quarter of their Week 3 clash. The Vikings won the game, 28-24, led by Kirk Cousins' 260 yards passing and two TD tosses, to go to 2-1 on the year. Jerry Holt/AP Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore get into an altercation during the second half of the Bucs' chippy 20-10 win over the Saints in Week 2. The win snapped Brady's personal seven-game losing streak against the Saints. Jonathan Bachman/AP Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devin Duvernay gave the home crowd something to cheer for when he returned the opening kickoff 103 yards to score a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins on September 18. Despite the feat, the Ravens went on to lose 42-38 after being outscored by 25 in the fourth quarter. Julio Cortez/AP San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo celebrates with his teammates during the second half of a 27-7 win against the Seattle Seahawks on September 18. Garoppolo came on as a substitute after starter Trey Lance went down for the year with a fractured ankle and threw for 154 yards and one touchdown -- and rushed for another -- on 13/21 passing. Tony Avelar/AP The Cleveland Browns run the ball across midfield against the New York Jets during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns ended up losing 31-30 after being up by 13 points with 1:55 remaining in the game. Jets QB Joe Flacco threw for 307 yards and four TDs — including two in the final two minutes of the game — to carry the Jets. Sunday's game saw the return of "Brownie the Elf" to the Browns' home field. The logo was initially used by the Browns in their inaugural season in 1946 but fell out of favor in the 60s, returning when the franchise was brought back to Cleveland in 1999. Scott Galvin/USA Today Sports Arizona Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., left, picks up a fumble and returns it for the winning touchdown during overtime of a dramatic 29-23 win against the Las Vegas Raiders on September 18. David Becker/AP Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow throws during the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1 on September 11 in Cincinnati. Burrow would go on to have five turnovers on the day — four interceptions and a lost fumble — in a 23-20 loss. Joshua A. Bickel/AP Seattle Seahawks fans make noise as Russell Wilson of the Denver Broncos prepares to take a snap during a failed game-winning drive on September 12. It was Wilson's first game back in Seattle since leaving for Denver after 10 years with the Seahawks. Seattle won 17-16. AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb makes a run in the red zone against the Carolina Panthers on September 11 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Chubb had 141 yards on 22 carries in a tight 26-24 win for the Browns. Rusty Jones/AP Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen stiff-arms Los Angeles Rams safety Nick Scott in the third quarter of a massive 31-10 win against the defending Super Bowl champions at SoFi Stadium. The statement victory on NFL Opening Day shows the Bills are serious contenders for the title in 2022. Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today Sports/Reuters New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas makes a reception against Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell in the second half of their game in Atlanta on September 11. Thomas had two touchdown catches on the day as the Saints outscored the Falcons by 14 in the fourth to win 27-26. Erik S. Lesser/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The best photos from the 2022 NFL season Prev Next

“And you go: ‘OK, how much longer do I want to make this commitment?’ And I obviously made the commitment for this year and everything’s going to be continuously evaluated all these different aspects at play.”

Brady outlined how he now has “no margins of error” as a 45-year-old quarterback compared to those 20 years his junior in terms of his physical preparation and recovery.

When asked by Gray about why he would consider retiring if he is still performing at a high level, Brady noted the impact of age on his priorities.

“When I was 25, there was a simplicity of 25-year-old life,” Brady said.

“And I think when you’re 45, and you have a lot of other commitments and obligations which are very important to you – namely children that are growing up and things that, I haven’t had a Christmas in 23 years and I haven’t had a Thanksgiving in 23 years, I haven’t celebrated birthdays with people that I care about that are born from August to late January. And I’m not able to be at funerals and I’m not able to be at weddings.

“I think there comes a point in your life where you say: ‘You know what? I’ve had my fill and it’s enough and time to go on, to move into other parts of life.’”

Brady looks to throw against the Cowboys. Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Gisele Bündchen, Brady’s wife, told Elle that she had “concerns” about her husband – already the oldest ever NFL quarterback – making a return from his February retirement.

“This is a very violent sport, and I have my children and I would like him to be more present,” Bündchen said. “I have definitely had those conversations with him over and over again. But ultimately, I feel that everybody has to make a decision that works for [them]. He needs to follow his joy, too.”

She added: “I’ve done my part, which is [to] be there for [Tom]. I moved to Boston, and I focused on creating a cocoon and a loving environment for my children to grow up in and to be there supporting him and his dreams. Seeing my children succeed and become the beautiful little humans that they are, seeing him succeed, and being fulfilled in his career – it makes me happy. At this point in my life, I feel like I’ve done a good job on that.”

The Buccaneers face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

Ben Morse Matt Foster
Ben Morse
Matt Foster

Tom Brady makes it official: Announces via social media that he is ...

A day after saying he was evaluating his options concerning his future, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady officially retired from the NFL.

Brady made the announcement via social media on Tuesday morning.

"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. "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. 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% of me, but right now, it's best I leave the field of play to the next generation of dedicated and committed athletes."

WINNERS, LOSERS OF BRADY RETIRING:Buccaneers QB's plan sends shockwaves through NFL

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WHO WILL BE NEXT TOM BRADY?:Probably no one, but these seven quarterbacks might have a shot

Brady, 44, led the NFL in passing yards and passing touchdowns this season and his final game was the NFC Divisional loss at home to the Los Angeles Rams.

USA TODAY Sports reported Saturday that Brady was set to announce his retirement after 22 seasons.

"Tom Brady will be remembered as one of the greatest to ever play in the NFL. An incredible competitor and leader, his stellar career is remarkable for its longevity but also for the sustained excellence he displayed year after year," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said.

"Tom made everyone around him better and always seemed to rise to the occasion in the biggest moments. His record five Super Bowl MVP awards and seven Super Bowl championships set a standard that players will chase for year."

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On Monday, Brady said on his SiriusXM podcast "Let's Go" that he wasn’t ready to announce plans for his future.

Brady's retirement brings an end to a storied career with seven Super Bowl titles, three MVP and five Super Bowl MVP awards and 15 Pro Bowl selections.

After being selected in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft by the New England Patriots, Brady got his opportunity the next season in Week 2 when starter Drew Bledsoe was hit by New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis. Brady started the next week against the Indianapolis Colts, leading them to a 44-13 victory.

He set NFL career marks for touchdown passes (624), passing yards (84,250) and wins as a starting quarterback while also setting league records for playoff wins, touchdowns and passing yards.

OPINION:Brady's retirement serves as rare peek into legendary QB's human side

OPINION:Brady's legacy also includes blueprint he provided on NFL player empowerment

"Words cannot describe the feelings I have for Tom Brady, nor adequately express the gratitude my family, the New England Patriots and our fans have for Tom for all he did during his career," Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a statement. "A generation of football fans have grown up knowing only an NFL in which Tom Brady dominated."

If there is one blemish on his record, it came during the 2015 AFC championship when the Colts accused Brady of using a deflated football.

The NFL investigated and found that it was “more probable than not” that Brady did use a football that was not up to league standards.

He was suspended four games, and the Patriots were fined $1 million and lost several draft picks because of the incident.

Has Tom Brady played his final NFL game? What we know about ...

Tom Brady had pulled off playoff miracles before, and he nearly did it again for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

The second-half effort was enough to tie the game at 27, but Matthew Stafford and the Rams answered with the game on the line to snatch the game back and advance to the NFC championship game.

That denied Brady's quest for Super Bowl No. 8 and back-to-back titles with the Buccaneers. Now Tampa Bay enters the offseason with a singular question leading the mind:

Will Brady be back for the 2022 season? Or has the "GOAT" played his final NFL game?

Tom Brady says he hasn't thought about future

Super Bowl Central: Super Bowl 57 odds, Eagles-Chiefs matchups, stats and more

Brady's focus had been on the playoffs, he said after Sunday's game. Brady added that he has not thought much about his future.

"Truthfully, guys, I’m thinking about this game. I’m not thinking about past five minutes from now," Brady said, via the Associated Press.

"I haven’t put a lot of thought into it," Brady said. "So, you know, we will just take it day by day and kind of see where we are at."

In response to a question about whether he thought during the game it might be his final contest, he replied:

"No, I was thinking about winning. That’s kind of my mentality, always to go out there are try to win. Give my team the best chance to win."

Tom Brady feels 'great'

Brady famously takes his physical health seriously, so even at age 44, his body can withstand the rigors of a full NFL campaign.

"I feel great," Brady said. "Physically, I feel great."

That means, as USA TODAY Sports' Jarrett Bell wrote, the decision about his future doesn't necessarily hinge on his health.

Brady will turn 45 prior to next season.

What has Tom Brady said in past about retirement?

Brady told ESPN in 2017 he wanted to play until his mid-40s.

"I’ve always said 45 was the age that I wanted to reach and that was my goal," Brady told USA TODAY Sports in June. "This year I’ll be 44, so next year I’ll be 45. I got a two-year contract."

Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said in May 2021 that Brady could play until he was 50 if he wanted to. The quarterback was a bit more hesitant.

"50? That’s a long time. Even for me, that’s a long time," he said.

"I’ll just have to evaluate all that when it comes," Brady added. "It’s a physical sport; anything could happen. So I’m going to go out there this year and give everything I’ve got like I’ve done every other year, and then take it from there."

What will impact Tom Brady's decision?

As Brady's former Patriots teammate Rob Ninkovich pointed out on ESPN's "Get Up" last week, Brady does not have anything left to prove on the football field.

His seven Super Bowls are a record. But past accomplishments likely won't be a good enough reason for Brady to hang up the cleats.

As his children get older, there will be family considerations. He has burgeoning business endeavors in apparel (the Brady line partnered with college athletes through new name, image and likeness rules), cryptocurrency and the media space – his production company helped air a 10-part documentary about his Super Bowl seasons on ESPN+.

Could there be enough going on for Brady outside football that it factors into the decision?

What is Tom Brady's contract?

Brady initially signed a two-year, $50 million deal with the Buccaneers in March 2020. He signed a one-year extension after last season, with $15 million of the $20 million signing bonus deferred to 2022, according to Spotrac.

If Brady retires this offseason, the Buccaneers will recoup $16 million of the signing bonus.

What did Bruce Arians say about Tom Brady's future?

Arians told the Tampa Bay Times on Friday he would be "shocked" if Brady didn't come back for the 2022 season.

On Sunday, Arians said the decision will be entirely up to Brady. The coach added he wasn't sure if his quarterback would return.

How did Tom Brady leave the New England Patriots?

Brady's departure from New England coincided with the onset of restrictions and lockdown during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. For example, his tearful meeting with Patriots owner Robert Kraft took place outdoors on a porch, according to reports.

In the past, Brady has been deliberate and not necessarily secretive about his desires. When it seemed certain he would finish his career with the New England Patriots, despite putting his Massachusetts mansion up for sale, he shocked the league by signing with the Buccaneers.

Contributing: Jarrett Bell, Jori Epstein; Associated Press

Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.

GOAT calling it quits: Tom Brady retiring after 22 NFL seasons, 7 ...

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady will announce his retirement after 22 seasons, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports' Mike Jones on Saturday.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the announcement.

While other media outlets reported that Brady had not yet told the Bucs he was retiring, the person who spoke with USA TODAY Sports said Brady wanted to share the news himself but was "definitely" retiring.

The news comes less than a week after the Buccaneers were eliminated in the divisional playoff round by the Los Angeles Rams.

Brady, 44, said after the game that he hadn't made a decision on retiring and would talk to his family concerning any decision.

Super Bowl Central: Super Bowl 57 odds, Eagles-Chiefs matchups, stats and more

“I haven’t put a lot of thought into it,” Brady said. “So, you know, we will just take it day by day and kind of see where we are at.”

Don Yee, Brady's agent, did not confirm or deny the news in a statement released Saturday after reports emerged of the quarterback's decision.

"I understand the advance speculation about Tom's future. Without getting into the accuracy or inaccuracy of what's being reported, Tom will be the only person to express his plans with complete accuracy. He knows the realities of the football business and planning calendar as well as anybody, so that should be soon."

This season, Brady, a three-time NFL MVP, set a career high with 5,316 passing yards and led the league with 43 touchdown passes.

Brady hangs up his cleats as the NFL's greatest champion; winning six Super Bowl titles in 20 years with the New England Patriots and another last season with the Buccaneers. He left New England after the 2019 season in one of the most stunning free agency moves in NFL history, splitting with longtime coach Bill Belichick.

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BRADY BY THE NUMBERS:All the biggest statistical achievements of Tom Brady's career

Brady ends his career holding NFL records for the most career touchdown passes (624), passing yards (84,520) and completions (7,263) of any player in history, and his 15 career Pro Bowl nods and five Super Bowl MVP awards stand as all-time bests. His ultimate legacy, however, is likely his winning record, with his seven Super Bowl titles, 243 regular-season wins and 35 postseason wins all unparalleled.

In 2019, Brady was voted the No. 2 player in NFL history by a panel of USA TODAY Sports columnists, reporters and editors.

A sixth-round pick in the 2000 draft by the Patriots, Brady waited his turn on the bench until he got an opportunity the next season when starter Drew Bledsoe was knocked out by New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis. Brady took over and led the Patriots to an upset win in Super Bowl 36 over the St. Louis Rams.

Brady added to his Super Bowl haul with back-to-back victories in 2003 and 2004. No NFL team has repeated as champions since.

He led the Patriots to a perfect 16-0 regular season in 2007, setting the then-NFL record with 50 passing touchdowns. New England was upset by the New York Giants 17-14 in Super Bowl 42.

Brady led the Patriots to more Super Bowl appearances, losing to the Giants again in Super Bowl 46 before beating the Seattle Seahawks in the 2014 season and the Atlanta Falcons in the 2016 campaign. The Patriots would lose another Super Bowl to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2017 season but won another Lombardi Trophy by defeating the Los Angles Rams in Super Bowl 53.

In 2015, an investigation determined it was "more probable than not" that the Patriots had purposefully deflated footballs for that January's AFC championship game against the Indianapolis Colts and that Brady was "at least generally aware" of the infractions. Brady was suspended for four games, sparking an extensive legal battle between the NFL and one of its star players. Brady would eventually serve the four-game ban to start the 2016 season after deciding not to press the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan's decision to reject what would be the final appeal.

The Patriots were fined $1 million and were forced to surrender the team's first-round pick in the 2016 draft and fourth-round pick the following year.

Brady had 42 fourth-quarter comebacks and 53 game-winning drives in his career.

He is the second mainstay quarterback to retire this offseason, as the Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger announced Thursday he would not return in 2022.

Brady's decision leaves immediate uncertainty for coach Bruce Arians and the Buccaneers at quarterback. The team selected Kyle Trask out of the University of Florida in the second round of last year's NFL draft, but Blaine Gabbert served as Brady's backup this season. Gabbert, the former first-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars who failed to live up to his draft billing, is set to become a free agent this year and has not started a game in the last two seasons under Brady.

Tampa Bay faces additional questions in what could be an offseason of significant change. Wide receiver Chris Godwin, running back Leonard Fournette, center Ryan Jensen, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, cornerback Carlton Davis III and tight end Rob Gronkowski are among the starters who are set to become free agents.

“It’s a reload like it is every year,” Arians said Monday, according to the team’s website. “Our [priority] in free agency will be our guys — see how many that we can get back and then build a team from there. I always look forward to that part of it, and then the draft. Each year is so different and so new. Last year, to get everybody back was amazing. I doubt we can do it all again this year, but we’re sure going to give it our best.”

Gronkowski, the former Patriots standout who came out of retirement to join Brady in Tampa, said this past week he also was contemplating retirement.

"If they're (the NFL) like, 'Rob, you've got to decide right now, right this second if you're playing next year,' I would say no right now. 'It's two days after the season. I would be like, 'No, I'm not playing,'" Gronkowski told TMZ Sports. "You've gotta give it time, you've gotta rest to see how everything goes, to see how everything plays out, how I feel. I just want to heal completely, see where my thoughts are from there ... You really start thinking what you're going to do about three, four, five weeks from now."

Tom Brady: legendary NFL quarterback is set to retire, reports say ...

CNN —

Tom Brady, arguably the greatest NFL quarterback of all time and a seven-time Super Bowl winner, said Monday on his podcast that he has made no decision yet on retiring from football.

Brady just wrapped up his 22nd season in the NFL and second with the Bucs.

Last Sunday, when Tampa Bay, the defending Super Bowl champion, lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round, Brady said he would take the decision on his professional football future “day-by-day.”

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The NFL tweeted its gratitude Saturday, referring to Brady as GOAT – Greatest Of All Time – with the hashtag #ThankYouTom and an illustration of the quarterback wearing his Super Bowl rings. Another NFL tweet read, “Nobody did it better.”

Brady himself has not released a statement, and according to multiple reports, people close to him insist a decision has not been conveyed to them.

Brady’s father Tom Brady, Sr., told NFL Network’s Mike Giardi reports of Brady’s retirement are “total conjecture.”

“Tommy has not made a final decision one way or the other, and anybody else that says that he has is absolutely wrong,” Giardi quoted Brady Sr. as saying.

ESPN first reported Brady was retiring, citing unnamed sources. The Boston Globe reported an NFL source confirmed the news.

Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians also was not ready to bid farewell to the seven-time Super Bowl champion.

ESPN’s Jenna Laine reported when she asked if Brady has informed the team he is retiring, Arians told her, “He hasn’t. Not even close to making up his mind yet. He told us.”

CNN has reached out to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady’s representatives and the NFL, but has not received a response to questions about the situation.

“I understand the advance speculation about Tom’s future,” his agent, Don Yee, said in a statement Saturday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

“Without getting into the accuracy or inaccuracy of what’s being reported, Tom will be the only person to express his plans with complete accuracy. He knows the realities of the football business and planning calendar as well as anybody, so that should be soon.”

Along with the league offering its best wishes, athletes from Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to Brooklyn Nets star James Harden tweeted goat emojis.

“Thanks for the memories, babe,” former Patriots teammate Julian Edelman tweeted.

“Hell of a run!,” wrote Bucs cornerback and teammate Richard Sherman. “Honor to share the field with you.”

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said it was an emotional day.

“Tom Brady is just an icon in the sport, but here in New England – 20 seasons that he gave us and some of the most memorable Super Bowls that we will always remember – it’s quite emotional today … for a lot of folks,” she told CNN Saturday.

Brady’s record-setting career

Brady is considered by many NFL observers to be the greatest quarterback of all time, having led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles and the Bucs to one. No quarterback has thrown for more touchdowns, more yards or won more playoff games than Brady. He has also played in and won more regular-season games in his career than any other quarterback.

Brady is a 44-year-old father of three who has been married to supermodel Gisele Bündchen since 2009. They have two children, a 12-year-old son and a 9-year-old daughter. Brady has a 14-year-old son from a prior relationship with actress Bridget Moynahan.

Brady told the SiriusXM “Let’s Go!” Podcast Monday Bündchen and his children would be at the heart of any choice he made.

“The biggest difference now that I’m older is I have kids now too, and I care about them a lot as well,” Brady told Jim Gray.

“They’ve been my biggest supporters. My wife is my biggest supporter, it pains her to see me get hit out there.

“She deserves what she needs from me as a husband and my kids deserve what they need from me as a dad.”

Taken by the Patriots with the 199th pick of the 2000 NFL Draft, Brady wasn’t meant to be the starting quarterback; the Patriots already had three-time Pro Bowl selection Drew Bledsoe. The Boston Herald reported Patriots Coach Bill Belichick said they took Brady because he was the highest-rated player still available in the sixth round.

“He’s a good, tough quarterback who played at a high level of competition,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “We’ll put him out there with everyone else and let him compete and see what happens.”

After Brady had a good training camp and preseason, the Patriots made the rare move of keeping him as a fourth-string quarterback.

He moved up the depth chart and in the second game of Brady’s second season Bledsoe suffered a severe injury when he was slammed to the ground in a game.

When Brady took over, the Patriots were coming off a losing season and had struggled in two losses to open the 2001 season.

But the young quarterback led them to 11 wins in their last 14 regular-season games and on to Super Bowl XXXVI. There the Patriots beat the St. Louis Rams on a last-second field goal after Brady completed five passes on the game-winning drive. It was the first of five times he would be selected as Most Valuable Player in the game.

Tom Brady holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl win in February 2021. Ben Liebenberg/AP Brady played college football at the University of Michigan. He started for the Wolverines in his junior and senior seasons, going 20-5. Peter Read Miller/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images Brady grew up in San Mateo, California, and played football, basketball and baseball before joining Michigan. Jamie Squire/Allsport/Getty Images Despite his successful career at Michigan, Brady was not projected to be a star in the NFL. He was the 199th player taken in the NFL Draft. Many quarterbacks were taken before him. Pro Football Hall of Fame/AP Brady started his career backing up Drew Bledsoe. But when Bledsoe was hurt in September 2001, Brady got his chance to shine. He took over as starter and led the Patriots all the way to the Super Bowl. Winslow Townson/AP Brady loses the ball after being hit by Oakland's Charles Woodson during an NFL playoff game in January 2002. The Patriots got the ball back and went on to win the game, but the controversial play was heavily debated in the offseason. The "tuck rule" was eventually repealed in 2013. Jim Davis/The Boston Globe/Getty Images The 2001 season culminated in a Super Bowl victory for Brady and the Patriots in February 2002. They upset the heavily favored St. Louis Rams 20-17. Brady was named Super Bowl MVP, and he became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl. He was 24. Jim Davis/The Boston Globe/Getty Images Brady and the Patriots were back in the Super Bowl in 2004, winning another title over the Carolina Panthers. They repeated the next season with a Super Bowl win over Philadelphia. Jeff Gross/Getty Images Brady and Patriots coach Bill Belichick celebrate after a playoff win in January 2007. The two were together for Brady's entire Patriots career. Kirby Lee/Getty Images Brady throws a pass during a game in Cincinnati in October 2007. Andy Lyons/Getty Images Brady is surrounded by the media in 2007. The Patriots went undefeated in the regular season but lost to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl. Stephan Savoia/AP New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck strips the ball from Brady during the Super Bowl in February 2008. Chris O'Meara/AP Brady leaves the field in 2012 after another Super Bowl loss to the Giants. Jim Davis/The Boston Globe/Getty Images Brady kisses his mother, Galynn, after the Patriots defeated Seattle for their fourth Super Bowl title in February 2015. David J. Phillip/AP An opposing fan taunts Brady as he takes the field in August 2015. Brady was eventually suspended four games over the "Deflategate" controversy, which involved allegations that the Patriots purposely deflated balls to gain an advantage on offense in an AFC Championship game. Grant Halverson/Getty Images Brady runs onto the field before a game in September 2015. Jim Rogash/Getty Images Brady drops back to pass during a game against Dallas in October 2015. Christian Petersen/Getty Images Brady arrives at a federal court to appeal his suspension for "Deflategate." Andrew Burton/Getty Images Brady is tackled by Denver's Aqib Talib in the AFC Championship game in January 2016. Christian Petersen/Getty Images Brady raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy after leading the Patriots to their fifth Super Bowl victory in 2017. The Patriots were trailing 28-3 before pulling off the biggest Super Bowl comeback ever and winning in overtime. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Teammate Rob Gronkowski playfully steals Brady's jersey before a Boston Red Sox baseball game in April 2017. Brady had just had his Super Bowl jersey returned by authorities after it had been stolen from the locker room. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Brady and his wife, model Gisele Bundchen, attend the Met Gala in New York in 2018. The couple married in 2009. Ray Tamarra/GC Images/Getty Images Brady celebrates after an overtime win in January 2019 that put that Patriots in the Super Bowl. Jeff Roberson/AP Brady celebrates with his daughter, Vivian, and his wife, Gisele, after winning his sixth Super Bowl in 2019. In October 2022, Brady and Bundchen announced that they had divorced after 13 years of marriage. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Brady leads his team onto the field before a game against the New York Jets in 2019. Al Bello/Getty Images Brady's last game with the Patriots was a playoff loss to Tennessee in January 2020. Greg M. Cooper/USA Today Sports Pro golfer Phil Mickelson reads a putt for Brady as they team up for a made-for-TV charity match in May 2020. Mickelson and Brady lost a close match to Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images for The Match Brady throws a pass during a game against Carolina in September 2020. Brady finished the regular season with 40 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions as the Buccaneers went 11-5. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees congratulates Brady after the Buccaneers defeated Brees' Saints in an NFL playoff game in January 2021. It was the first playoff game in NFL history to feature two starting quarterbacks in their 40s. Both players occupy the top two spots for many of the league's quarterback records. Butch Dill/AP Brady celebrates with his teammates in January 2021 after Tampa Bay defeated Green Bay to win the NFC and clinch a spot in the Super Bowl. Jeffrey Phelps/AP Brady celebrates at the end of the Buccaneers' win over Kansas City in Super Bowl LV. He was named the game's Most Valuable Player. Ben Liebenberg/AP Brady throws the Vince Lombardi Trophy to teammates as they celebrate their title during a boat parade in Tampa, Florida, in February 2021. Kyle Zedaker/Tampa Bay Buccaneers President Joe Biden laughs at a joke made by Brady, who was visiting the White House along with his Tampa Bay teammates in July 2021. One of Brady's jokes was about those who continue to deny that Biden won the 2020 election. "Not a lot of people think that we could have won (the Super Bowl). In fact, I think about 40% of people still don't think we won. You understand that, Mr. President?" Brady said to laughter. Biden responded, "I understand that." Drew Angerer/Getty Images Brady runs off the field after the Buccaneers defeated his former team, the New England Patriots, in October 2021. It was Brady's first game back in New England since he left the franchise in 2020. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Brady throws a pass during a playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams in January 2022. The Rams eliminated the Buccaneers 30-27. Kim Klement/USA Today Sports Brady walks off the field after the playoff loss to the Rams. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images In pictures: NFL legend Tom Brady Prev Next

The Patriots added Vince Lombardi trophies in 2004, 2005, 2015, 2017 and 2019.

His best season might have been in 2007 when the Patriots went undefeated in the regular season as Brady threw for a then-record 50 touchdowns and completed a league-high 68.9% of his passes. But the New York Giants upset the Patriots in one of the most exciting Super Bowls ever.

Brady’s last season was filled with gaudy numbers, too: 5,316 yards passing and 43 touchdowns. While Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the overwhelming favorite to win the MVP award, Brady is the likely runner-up. Whoever wins will be MVP for the fourth time in his career.

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Tom Brady's $15 million signing bonus pays out Feb. 4, per report

Tom Brady hasn't officially confirmed he's retiring from the NFL, despite all indications that he won't return for a 23rd season.

According to Spotrac, the one-year extension Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last March for the 2022 season included a $20 million signing bonus -- with $15 million of it to be paid on Feb. 4, 2022.

Brady, 44, may have already decided to hang up his cleats, but Tampa Bay could reclaim $16 million of the signing bonus if he does retire, according to reports. Teams can still choose to pay out a player's full signing bonus.

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On Saturday, Brady's agent Don Yee said: "He knows the realities of the football business and planning calendar as well as anybody, so that should be soon."

The three-time MVP and seven-time Super Bowl champion set a career high with 5,316 passing yards this season and led the league with 43 touchdown passes before the Buccaneers fell to the Los Angeles Rams in last week's NFC divisional playoff.

His exit would add to the Buccaneers' potential offseason losses. Wide receiver Chris Godwin, running back Leonard Fournette, center Ryan Jensen, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, cornerback Carlton Davis III and tight end Rob Gronkowski are all set to become free agents.

Tom Brady retires at 45, insisting this time it's 'for good'

AP

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — This time, Tom Brady says he's done for good.

The seven-time Super Bowl winner with New England and Tampa Bay announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday, exactly one year after first saying his playing days were over, by posting a brief video lasting just under one minute on social media.

Unlike last winter, though, the most successful quarterback in league history, as well as one of the greatest athletes in team sports, said his decision was final.

“Good morning guys. I'll get to the point right away," Brady says as the message begins. “I'm retiring. For good."

He briefly retired after the 2021 season but wound up coming back for one more year with the Buccaneers. He retires at age 45, the owner of virtually every meaningful NFL passing record in an unprecedented 23-year career.

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A year ago when he retired, it was in the form of a long Instagram post. But about six weeks later, he decided to return for one more run, citing “unfinished business” after an early playoff exit.

The Buccaneers — with whom he won a Super Bowl two seasons ago — made the playoffs again this season, losing in their playoff opener. And at the time, it begged the question about whether Brady would play again.

Only a couple of weeks later, he has given the answer.

“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," Brady says in the video. “I won’t be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay and I used mine up last year.

“I really thank you guys so much, to every single one of you for supporting me. My family, my friends, teammates, my competitors. I could go on forever. There’s too many. Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn’t change a thing. Love you all."

Brady is the NFL’s career leader in yards passing (89,214) and touchdowns (649). He is the only player to win more than five Super Bowls and has been MVP of the game five times. He also holds marks for regular-season wins (251), Super Bowl appearances (10), playoff games and wins (48, 35), as well as playoff yards (13,400) and TDs (88).

“Tom’s legacy is unmatched in the history of this game. All the Super Bowl titles and statistical records speak for themselves, but the impact he had on so many people through the years is what I appreciate the most,” Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said.

“His imprint on this organization helped take us to the mountaintop. We will certainly miss him as our quarterback, but I will also miss him as a leader and friend,” Licht added. "Our entire organization is indebted to him for what he provided us over the past three years. We won’t ever forget the wins or the accolades, and his influence will be felt for years to come.”

Brady announced his retirement one day after attending the premiere of “80 for Brady" — which comes out Friday — in Los Angeles. The movie tells the story of four lifelong friends, played by Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Sally Field, who went to a Super Bowl to see Brady play.

He was asked Tuesday night whether he felt a connection working with women — the four stars range in age from 76 to 91 — who don’t want to retire.

“They’re working hard and they love it. So good for them," Brady told The Associated Press. “You know, it’s just that’s what life is about. You got to, you know, wake up every day with a purpose. And when you find something you love to do, you know, it’s hard to stop. You really enjoy it. And there’s a lot of aspects that you do enjoy. So they still bring it at this age. It’s really unbelievable to watch them on set and how much energy they have. And I certainly was inspired by them and learned a lot of lessons on this whole experience.”

Famously underrated coming into the NFL — he was picked 199th in the 2000 draft by the Patriots, behind six other quarterbacks, three kickers and a punter — Brady certainly wasn’t expected to become synonymous with greatness. He played in one game as a rookie, completing one of three passes for six yards.

The next year, it all changed.

Brady took over as the Patriots’ starter, the team beat the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl that capped the 2001 season and he and New England coach Bill Belichick were well on their way to becoming the most successful coach-QB duo in football history.

More Super Bowl wins came after the 2003 and 2004 seasons. The Patriots returned to football’s mountaintop for a fourth time in Brady’s era a decade later to cap the 2014 season, the start of three more titles in a span of five years.

He signed with Tampa Bay in free agency in 2020 and added a seventh Super Bowl ring to his collection in his first season with his new team. The Bucs and won 37 games (including postseason) with Brady at quarterback — third most in the league over the past three seasons behind Kansas City (46) and Buffalo (41).

“I think I’ve been on the record dozens of times saying there’s no quarterback I’d rather have than Tom Brady, and I still feel that way," Belichick said in 2021 — shortly before Tampa Bay, with Brady, came to New England and beat the Patriots in a game dubbed “The Return." “I was very lucky to have Tom as the quarterback, to coach him, and he was as good as any coach could ever ask for."

Brady set league single-season records for completions (490) and pass attempts (733) while throwing for 4,643 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions in his final season. The Bucs, however ranked dead last in rushing offense and, forced to rely almost solely of Brady’s arm, struggled to get the ball into the end zone.

After scoring 61 touchdowns in 2021, Tampa Bay slipped to 31 last season and averaged just 18.4 points per game — down from over 30 in Brady’s first two seasons with the Bucs.

At 8-9, Brady’s only losing season in over two decades as a NFL starter, the Bucs became just the fourth team in league history to earn a postseason berth with a losing mark in a non-strike year. The offensive struggles continued during a lopsided loss to Dallas in the NFC wild-card round.

Brady won three NFL MVP awards, was a first-team All-Pro three times and was selected to the Pro Bowl 15 times.

Brady and model Gisele Bündchen finalized their divorce this past fall, during the Bucs' season. It ended a 13-year marriage between two superstars who respectively reached the pinnacles of football and fashion.

It was announced last year that when Brady retires from playing, he would join Fox Sports as a television analyst in a 10-year, $375 million deal.

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