Tom Brady reveals he almost retired from football at 27 years old

Quarterback Tom Brady has long said he wanted to continue playing football until he was 45 years old.

Now, at 45, Brady is saying that he almost retired from football at 27 years old — nearly two decades before his brief retirement earlier this year that lasted only six weeks. 

“When I was 27, I almost retired from the game of football because of elbow pain,” Brady said at the start of an advertisement for TB12, Brady’s health and fitness company. “… Now, I’m 45 years old and I’m still here.”

Brady didn’t elaborate in the advertisement posted on social media. The former New England Patriots signal-caller had already won two Super Bowls before his age-27 season in 2004. He had finished third in MVP voting in 2003 after leading the Patriots to a 14-2 record. 

But the 2004 campaign was the best statistical season of his career up to that point with 3,692 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and a Pro Bowl appearance. He led New England to another Super Bowl title — the team’s second straight and third in four seasons. 

Had Brady retired after the 2004 season, it’s likely he would’ve still made the Hall of Fame as a three-time Super Bowl champion. His retirement would have been shocking — similar to Andrew Luck, who stepped away from football in 2019 at just 29 years old due to injuries.