Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tom Brady announces retirement from NFL "for good"

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 01 February 2023

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady announces that he is retiring from the NFL "for good", one year on from first calling it quits.

Legendary quarterback Tom Brady has announced that he is retiring from the NFL "for good".

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers star announced on February 1 of last year that he would be retiring from the game, but he performed a sensational U-turn only six weeks later.

Brady announced that he had "unfinished business" on the field in 2022, and he would return to compete in his 23rd and final season at the top level.

Returning for one final season with the Bucs, Brady lost eight games in a single campaign for the first time in his career, but he still led his side to the NFL Playoffs with victory in the NFC South.

However, Brady's dreams of a seventh Super Bowl title ended with a 31-14 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round, and he has now called it quits for the second time.

"Good morning guys, I'll get to the point right away. I'm retiring - for good," Brady said in a video on social media.

"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.

Truly grateful on this day. Thank you 🙏🏻❤️ pic.twitter.com/j2s2sezvSS
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) February 1, 2023

"It won't be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay and I used mine up last year. Thank you to every single one of you for supporting me - my family, my friends, my team-mates, 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."

During his illustrious playing career, Brady won a mammoth seven Super Bowls - six of which came for the New England Patriots before his most recent triumph in 2020 with the Buccaneers.

Brady also won five Super Bowl MVP awards and broke even more records in his final NFL season, becoming the first quarterback in history to hit 100,000 passing yards across the regular season and playoffs combined.

The quarterback also broke Peyton Manning's record of 54 game-winning drives with a late touchdown pass to Cade Otton in a 16-13 win over the Los Angeles Rams in December.

However, Brady's tumultuous season on the field was overshadowed by a high-profile divorce from wife Gisele Bundchen, with their 13-year marriage ending in October.