Well this just took an unexpected turn.
Earlier today, NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 7-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Tom Brady would be retiring from the NFL.
Tom Brady is retiring from football after 22 extraordinary seasons, multiple sources tell @JeffDarlington and me.
More coming on https://t.co/rDZaVFhcDQ. pic.twitter.com/6CHWmMlyXg
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 29, 2022
The news came as a bit of a surprise, as the 44-year old Brady has previously said that he felt like he could play until he was 50 (although he also said that wasn’t going to happen).
Immediately after reports of Brady’s supposed retirement broke, tributes began pouring in from both current and former teammates, as well as fans across the NFL, paying tribute to undoubtedly one of the greatest (if not THE greatest) quarterback of all time.
Thanks for the memories, babe. @TomBrady pic.twitter.com/lCqCVn13tI
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) January 29, 2022
Thanks for everything big bro it was an honor @TomBrady 🐐
— Mike Evans (@MikeEvans13_) January 29, 2022
Thank You. @TomBrady pic.twitter.com/MzLz1z9XET
— New England PatriotsNation™ (@PatsNationTM) January 29, 2022
But shortly after the news began to spread, Brady’s agent issued a statement neither confirming nor denying the rumors:
“I understand the advance speculation about Tom’s future. Without getting into the accuracy or inaccuracy of what’s being reported, Tom will be the only person to express his plans with complete accuracy. He knows the realities of the football business and planning calendar as well as anybody, so that should be soon.”
Statement from Tom Brady’s agent Don Yee: pic.twitter.com/vbUhSToYtT
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 29, 2022
And things got even more muddy when Tom Brady’s company, TB12, tweeted and then quickly deleted a tribute to their owner:
TB12 Sports deleted this tweet 👀 pic.twitter.com/24XSq0k23W
— Sri ⭐ (Offseason Bound) (26-20) (@DADDYMACSZN) January 29, 2022
Well now Tom Brady’s father, Tom Brady Sr., is saying that reports of his son’s retirement may be premature – if not completely false.
Brady Sr. told KRON4 News out of the San Francisco Bay area that his son is NOT retiring. According to Brady Sr., the news began to spread because of an unsubstantiated rumor by an online publication that was later picked up by NFL insiders and media.
JUST IN: Tom Brady Sr. tells @kron4news that his son is not retiring. Brady Sr. says an online publication started circulating an unsubstantiated rumor. However a number of NFL insiders are now reporting it. @kron4news #TomBrady #NFL
— Kylen Mills (@KylenMills) January 29, 2022
And it’s also been reported that Brady contacted Buccaneers GM Jason Licht to tell the team that he has NOT made a decision on retirement.
Report for @BallySports: Tom Brady contacted @Buccaneers GM Jason Licht and told him he has not yet made a final decision on retirement, disputing the ESPN report. Licht is respecting Brady's process and waiting for a definitive answer, whenever it comes, from the QB.
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) January 29, 2022
So could Brady still be coming back to try to get another ring? Did he just beat out Urban Meyer for the shortest retirement in sports history?
I guess we’ll just have to wait until we hear it straight from the GOAT’s mouth.
