It’s official. After 22 long seasons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback and seven-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady has retired through posts on Instagram and Twitter.
Brady posted his thoughts and thanks to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers coaching staff, ownership, players, and fans across the nation Tuesday morning.
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) February 1, 2022
Fans, athletes, and celebrities alike all flocked to Twitter and Instagram to give props to the legend who ended an incredible 22-year journey in the NFL. The responses included both appreciation and confusion. One fan, Yann Dalon, who is listed as living in Paris, made a painting of the quarterback.
My painting of @TomBrady , congrats for this incredible career!#NFL #TomBrady #TomBradyRetires pic.twitter.com/Smu6J5ovLs
— Yann Dalon (@YannDalon) January 29, 2022
An activist group, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, suggested that Brady join their team to help save the mammals.
Hey @TomBrady, if you need something to do in your retirement, we need volunteers for our Marine Animal Rescue & Response….👀😁#TomBrady #TomBradyRetires pic.twitter.com/Dfad5kJFnZ
— Whale & Dolphin Conservation (WDC) (@whales_org) February 1, 2022
Then there was someone named Cass on Twitter – an Astros fan apparently from Houston – who fears that without Brady, the Buccaneers will go back to the losing ways that predated Brady’s arrival.
All Tampa Bay fans just now…#TampaBay #TB12 #TomBradyRetires pic.twitter.com/sRVnEuz3hA
— Cass (@_Cx2_) January 29, 2022
A Tweeter from Brooklyn who uses the bizarre handle John Killmonger blamed the athlete’s famous model wife, Gisele Bündchen, for tipping off the ESPN writer, Adam Schefter, who broke the story.
Who else thinks this is what really happened… 😆 #TomBradyRetires #Giselle #AdamSchefter pic.twitter.com/OfevqKKSvy
— John KILLMONGER!!! (@darkwriter) January 31, 2022
Finally, there was Michael Stark, a senior consultant from Tampa, who photoshopped an image of Brady in a motorized scooter on the front page of a newspaper, with the caption, “This makes it official.”
This makes it official #TomBrady #TomBradyRetires #TomBradyRetired pic.twitter.com/4VvsQgIN1W
— Michael Stark MCP (@starknetwork) January 30, 2022
Most of the other comments had gratitude and congratulations for the 44-year-old quarterback. Some fans reminisced about his 22-year career in the NFL. Brady was known for being the face of the New England Patriots franchise along with his longtime head coach Bill Belichick. The two orchestrated 19 winning seasons with the Pats, snagging six Super Bowls.
The owner of the Patriots, Robert Kraft, also sent out a statement on the Patriot’s Twitter page., “I will always feel a close bond with him,” Kraft wrote.
After his tenure with the Patriots, Brady played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two seasons, winning Super Bowl LV the first year at Raymond James Stadium, then leading the league in passing yards this year with 5,316 and passing touchdowns with 43. He nearly mounted a comeback win over the Los Angeles Rams to advance the Buccaneers to the NFC Championship game, but was bettered by LA quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Cooper Kupp’s heroics.
Over his 22-year career, Brady has reached the playoffs 19 times, the Super Bowl 10 times, and has won a staggering seven Super Bowl Championships, along with five Super Bowl MVPs. That is not to mention the 2009 Comeback Player of the Year Award, and oh, 15 selections to the Pro Bowl.
Brady will forever be remembered as the guy who won his fifth Super Bowl by beating the Atlanta Falcons in overtime 34-28, after being down 28-3. He is the ultimate G.O.A.T. despite the fact he was picked in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft.