TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 16: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Raymond James Stadium on January 16, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Tom Brady has privately hinted that retirement is on the table after the end of the season.
There is no question about the greatness of Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterback Tom Brady, who is unquestionably the best quarterback to ever take the field. Brady has already won seven Super Bowl titles and is pursuing an eighth with the Buccaneers right now but his future beyond this season is uncertain, ESPN’s Jeff Darlington and Adam Schefter are reporting.
According to the ESPN report, Brady is expected to take at least a month to decide if he wants to return for the 2022 season, the final year on his current contract. Brady is expected to weigh how he feels mentally and physically as well as what his family wants for the soon-to-be 45-year-old quarterback.
Could this really be the end of Tom Brady’s career?
The Buccaneers are definitely aware of what is going on with Brady’s thought process although head coach Bruce Arians recently indicated that he believes Brady will be back for another season. Brady is also said to be considering how his retirement would affect the Buccaneers since the team doesn’t have a clear succession plan in house with the current backups being Blaine Gabbert, Ryan Griffin and 2021 2nd round pick Kyle Trask.
There are no indications that Brady is unhappy in Tampa, which appeared to give the legend a second wind after he spent nearly two decades as New England’s starting quarterback. The Buccaneers’ current playoff run could also weigh in on Brady’s thought process since the prospect of retiring after a second straight title, his eighth overall, could be appealing for him to go out on top.
Brady once famously mentioned that he believed he was capable of playing in the NFL until he was 45 years old. That would only happen if Brady comes back next season but it is clear that we could be watching the final games of his legendary career right now.