Did Tom Brady Really Retire From The NFL?
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We all know that Tom Brady is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. But did he really retire from the NFL? Let’s take a look at the facts.
Tom Brady’s Retirement
Tom Brady has announced his retirement from the NFL after 20 years. This comes as a surprise to many, as he has appeared to be in the prime of his career. Some are speculating that this is just a ploy to get out of his current contract with the New England Patriots. However, others believe that he is truly done with football. Let’s take a look at the evidence.
Tom Brady’s age
Tom Brady will turn 43 years old in August, which is ancient for an NFL quarterback. The average age of quarterbacks who have started at least eight games in a season since Brady entered the league in 2000 is just over 31 years old, and only three quarterbacks who were older than Brady are currently on NFL rosters: Josh McCown, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Eli Manning.
Tom Brady’s injuries
Tom Brady has played in the NFL for 20 years, and while he’s had an incredibly successful career, he’s also had his fair share of injuries.
Brady has suffered multiple concussions, as well as ankle, knee, and shoulder injuries. In 2008, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 of the season.
In 2013, Brady underwent surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back.
And most recently, in 2016, Brady tore his ACL and MCL in a preseason game against the Lions.
While Brady has been able to come back from all of these injuries and continue playing at a high level, there is no telling how much longer his body will be able to hold up.
With that being said, it’s not at all surprising that rumors have been swirling about Brady’s potential retirement.
Tom Brady’s contract
It’s been a whirlwind week for fans of the New England Patriots. First, reports surfaced that quarterback Tom Brady was contemplating retirement. Then, just days later, Brady announced he would be leaving the Patriots after 20 years with the team.
So what’s next for Brady? According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Brady is still weighing his options and has not yet decided on his next move. Rapoport says Brady is currently “torn” between retirement and continuing his career elsewhere.
One option for Brady would be to sign with another NFL team. However, at 42 years old, he would likely be limited to a backup role. Another option would be to join a television network as an analyst or commentator.
What’s clear is that Brady’s days with the Patriots are over. So whatever he decides to do next, it will be without the team he has called home for two decades.
The New England Patriots
After 20 years of playing football, Tom Brady has announced his retirement from the NFL. This comes as a shock to many fans, as he is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Brady has played for the New England Patriots for his entire career, winning six Super Bowls with the team.
Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick is an American football coach who is the head coach of the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He has led the Patriots to nine Super Bowl appearances, including six wins, since taking over as head coach in 2000. Belichick has been honored with numerous awards and accolades, including being named the AP NFL Coach of the Year three times and winning two Coach of the Year Awards from The Sporting News.
Robert Kraft
Robert K. Kraft (born June 5, 1941) is an American businessman. He is the Chairman and CEO of The Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, real estate development, and a private equity portfolio. His sports holdings include the National Football League’s New England Patriots, Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution, and Gillette Stadium. He also owns the New England Combackers of the United Football League.
The Patriots’ quarterback situation
The New England Patriots have a bit of a quarterback situation on their hands. After 20 seasons with the team, legendary quarterback Tom Brady announced his retirement from the NFL in early 2020. This left the Patriots without a clear starter for the first time in two decades.
The team signed veteran free agent Cam Newton to replace Brady, but Newton has struggled with injuries in recent years and is not the same player he once was. The Patriots also drafted rookie quarterback Jarrett Stidham in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, but it is unclear if he is ready to start in the NFL.
With Brady gone, it is clear that the Patriots’ dynasty is over. The team will have to rebuild around Newton or Stidham, and it will be interesting to see how they fare in the coming years.
Other NFL Teams
Though Tom Brady has not officially announced his retirement from the NFL, many believe that he will not return to the New England Patriots. If Brady does indeed retire, there are a few teams that he could sign with. The Los Angeles Chargers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Indianapolis Colts all make sense as potential landing spots for the future Hall of Famer.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league’s National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The club joining the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team, along with the Seattle Seahawks. Play in the NFC West division from 1977–2001, before moving to the AFC South in 2002. The Buccaneers have won one Super Bowl title since joining the NFL, their victory coming in Super Bowl XXXVII at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.
The Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in the Greater Los Angeles Area. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league’s American Football Conference (AFC) West division. They were founded on August 14, 1959, to fill the void created by the relocation of the NFL’s previous longtime Californian team, the San Francisco 49ers.
Since their debut season in 1960, the Chargers have won one AFL title (in 1963), and reached the AFL playoffs five times and the NFL playoffs ten times. In 1984, after relocating to San Diego (and remaining there until 2017), they reached their only Super Bowl, Super Bowl XXIX, where they lost 49-26 to the San Francisco 49ers. The Chargers have seven former head coaches and four former general managers[1] in their 53-year history; they have played their home games at SDCCU Stadium in Mission Valley since 1967.[2]
The San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team located in the San Francisco Bay Area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league’s National Football Conference (NFC) West division. The team plays its home games at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, which it shares with the Santa Clara Stadium Authority.