When fans look back on this era of football, it will not be defined primarily by the explosion of the passing game or by the unprecedented growth in popularity the game has seen.
This era will not first be remembered for the back-breaking defenses of the Ravens and Steelers or high-flying offenses of the Saints and Colts.
The first two decades of the 21st century — 22 seasons, to be exact — will be remembered, above all else, as the era when Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback of all time, played.
Brady, at 44 years old, officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday. In 20 seasons with New England and two with Tampa Bay, Brady went to 10 Super Bowls, hoisted seven Lombardi trophies and won three regular-season MVP awards. He walks away as the NFL leader in career touchdown passes with 624 and career passing yards with 84,520.
“I have always believed the sport of football is an ‘all-in’ proposition — if a 100% competitive commitment isn’t there, you won’t succeed, and success is what I love so much about our game,” Brady wrote on Instagram in his retirement post. “This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore. I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention.”
The news of Brady’s retirement was first reported by ESPN on Saturday. After a few hours of adulation from everyone on the internet, the validity of the report became murky. Brady, his agent and Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians all came out and said Brady had not yet made a decision about his future.
But on Tuesday, Brady’s long Instagram post, which now has more than 100,000 comments congratulating him, confirmed what most expected after the Buccaneers lost to the Rams in the divisional round: He’s hanging ‘em up.
The praise for Brady continued Tuesday.
“Words cannot describe the feelings I have for Tom Brady, nor adequately express the gratitude my family, the New England Patriots and our fans have for Tom for all he did during his career,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a statement. “A generation of football fans have grown up knowing only an NFL in which Tom Brady dominated.”
“Congratulations to my friend Tom on an unbelievable football career,” Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning said in a statement. “To do it as long as he did, at the highest of levels is absolutely incredible. It was an honor and a privilege to compete against him on the field, and I truly appreciate his friendship off the field.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who suspended Brady four games for his role in New England’s Deflategate controversy, congratulated the quarterback.
“Tom Brady will be remembered as one of the greatest to ever play in the NFL,” Goodell said in a statement. “An incredible competitor and leader, his stellar career is remarkable for its longevity but also for the sustained excellence he displayed year after year.”
Brady’s retirement is a contradiction of multiple statements he made in the past.
Brady has said more than once that he wanted to play until he was 45 years old, which he would have accomplished next season. Before the 2014 season at 37 years old — an age that’s considered old for a normal quarterback — Brady said he wouldn’t retire until his performance diminished.
“When I suck, I’ll retire,” Brady said.
The problem for Brady, especially these past two seasons in Tampa Bay, was that he didn’t “suck” and realized it would probably be a long time before he did.
In fact, he played as well the past two years as he did when he won his third and final MVP in 2017. Last season, Brady became the first player in NFL history to win a Super Bowl in three different decades and the only one to win championships after his 40th birthday.
This season, Brady, whose NFL life started as an underwhelming sixth-round draft pick, ended his illustrious career this season by leading the NFL with 5,316 passing yards and 43 touchdown passes.
“My playing career has been such a thrilling ride, and far beyond my imagination, and full of ups and downs,” Brady wrote.
“I will remember and cherish these memories and re-visit them often. I feel like the luckiest person in the world.”
• Jacob Calvin Meyer can be reached at jmeyer@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.