Who Retired From The NFL In 2021?
After a long season, many NFL players have decided to retire. Here is a list of who has decided to hang up their cleats for good.
Tom Brady
Tom Brady, who won a record seventh Super Bowl last month, has decided to retire from the NFL at the age of 43.
Brady announced his decision on Instagram, saying: “I’m so grateful for everything football has given to me. I’ve been lucky enough to have the greatest job in the world for 21 years and it’s time for me to move on to something else.”
“I’m not sure what that will be yet, but I’m excited for the challenge,” he added.
The New England Patriots quarterback had hinted at retirement in recent weeks, and it was widely expected that he would make an announcement after winning the Super Bowl.
In his post, Brady thanked Patriots owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick for their “unwavering support.”
“I couldn’t have accomplished anything I have without their help,” he said. “I also want to thank my teammates, both past and present, for their support and friendship. It has been the honor of my life to play for this team.”
A three-time NFL MVP, Brady is widely considered to be the greatest quarterback of all time. He led the Patriots to six Super Bowl titles in his 21 seasons with the team, winning four MVP awards along the way.
Drew Brees
Drew Brees, who spent the past 20 seasons with the New Orleans Saints, announced his retirement from the NFL on Sunday.
“It is time for me to retire from the game of football,” Brees wrote in a post on social media. “Thank you all for allowing me to live out my childhood dream of playing this great game.”
Brees, who will turn 42 in January, is the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards (77,416) and passing touchdowns (547). He led the Saints to a Super Bowl title in 2010 and was named the Super Bowl MVP.
“I am only retiring from playing football, I am not retiring from New Orleans,” Brees wrote. “This is not goodbye, but rather a new beginning.”
Larry Fitzgerald
Larry Fitzgerald, one of the NFL’s most prominent wide receivers, has announced his retirement after a 16-year career with the Arizona Cardinals.
Fitzgerald, who will turn 37 in August, is the Cardinals’ all-time leader in receptions (1,378) and receiving yards (17,083). He is also tied for ninth in NFL history with 116 touchdown catches.
Fitzgerald was a first-round pick (third overall) by the Cardinals in the 2004 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as one of the league’s top receivers, making eight Pro Bowls and being named a first-team All-Pro three times.
Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning, one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, announced his retirement from the NFL on March 7th, 2021. Manning played for 18 seasons and was a 14-time Pro Bowler. He is a two-time Super Bowl champion, winning Super Bowl XLI with the Indianapolis Colts and Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos. Manning is also a five-time NFL MVP and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s.
Calvin Johnson
Calvin Johnson, who was selected by the Lions with the second overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, caught 731 passes for 11,619 yards and 83 touchdowns in nine seasons with Detroit. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and was named first-team All-Pro three times.
