After 22 seasons, 365 games, and seven Super Bowls, Tom Brady, who famously went from late-round draft pick underdog to NFL legend, is reportedly calling it quits.
The future Hall of Fame quarterback will reportedly retire from the NFL, according to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington and Adam Schefter.
The NFL’s official Twitter account and Bucs teammate Mike Evans also weighed in, with Evans saying on social media, “Thanks for everything big bro it was an honor.”
Later in the day, there was pushback on the news from Bally Sports’ Mike Silver, the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud, and NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran, among others, reporting that Brady called the Bucs to tell them no decision had been made.
If Brady’s retirement is imminent, he’ll finish as a three-time league MVP, five-time Super Bowl MVP, two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, a three-time first-team All-Pro, and a 15-time Pro Bowl selection, among other honors. His name is all over the NFL record book. He ranks first in regular-season career yards passing (84,520), passes attempted (11,317), completed (7,263), and touchdowns (624).
All of those numbers are buoyed by a remarkable postseason career that has him the leader in Super Bowls won but also victories as a quarterback (35), passing touchdowns (86), passing yards (13,049), and so on. Many of those playoff marks, which Brady takes much pride in, are close to double the nearest competitor.
Brady’s career has been fueled by proving doubters wrong. At Serra High School in San Mateo, California, he was a backup on the freshman team and never attempted a pass, only to develop into a Division I prospect.