Legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady announced Wednesday that he is "retiring for good" after previously retiring after last season and reversing course weeks later.
Brady made the announcement via Twitter, saying he wanted to "get to the point right away," and acknowledged he did not want to make as big of a deal as he did with last year's announcement.
TOM BRADY SAYS NEXT RETIREMENT WILL BE HIS LAST
Truly grateful on this day. Thank you ????????❤️ pic.twitter.com/j2s2sezvSS
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) February 1, 2023
"I'm retiring, for good," Brady said. "I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I'd press record and let you guys know first. It won't be long-winded, you only get one super emotional retirement essay, and I used mine up last year."
Brady appeared to get choked up when thanking his family and friends for allowing him to live his "absolute dream," adding that he would not change a thing.
Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion and five-time Super Bowl MVP, played his first 20 seasons with the New England Patriots, creating a nearly two-decade dynasty with head coach Bill Belichick. He played his final three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leading them to be the first team to win a Super Bowl in their home stadium.
The 45-year-old quarterback is widely regarded as the best quarterback in NFL history, with iconic moments such as leading a comeback victory against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI after being down 28-3. Brady's final game was a loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the wild-card round last month.
Brady's retirement comes exactly a year after he announced his first retirement from the NFL — that retirement would only last 40 days before he decided to reverse course and rejoin the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His final season was rocky on and off the field, with Brady struggling as the Buccaneers finished with a losing record of 8-9 and with Brady getting a divorce from his wife, Gisele Bundchen.
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The quarterback will be eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2028.