Not an easy decision. Tom Brady said a lot about his retirement over the years — both before his brief exit from the NFL in February 2022 and after his March 2022 comeback.
The football star, who played for the New England Patriots for 20 years before becoming a Tampa Bay Buccaneer in spring 2020, made it clear over the years that he wasn’t ready to stop playing football despite his age, even joking about his retirement in commercials.
However, the oldest quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl hinted on more than one occasion about when — if ever — he would hang up his cleats.
“We’ll see how long it goes,” Brady said in November 2019 when asked if he could stay on the field into his late 40s. “Easier said than done. I know the kind of effort I am putting in right now, but what a great privilege to play a sport that I love.”
While fans were happy to hear the athlete’s plans to stick around the NFL a little longer, his then-wife, Gisele Bündchen, wanted a little more clarification on the topic — and Brady understood why.
“I think my wife has, you know, held down the house for a long time now, and I think there’s things that she wants to accomplish,” he said during a September 2021 episode of his “Let’s Go” podcast. “You know, she hasn’t worked as much in the last 10, 12 years just raising our family and kind of committing to being in a life in Boston and then moving to Florida.”
The California native and Bündchen tied the knot in 2009 and welcomed son Benjamin the same year. In 2012, they welcomed daughter Vivian. Brady, who also shares son Jack with ex Bridget Moynahan, has called meeting the Brazilian model the best thing that ever happened to him.
“I think the one phone call that changed my life was my friend Ed, who called me one day and he said, ‘I have this girl and I think you should call her,’” he told WSJ. Magazine in September 2021. “I ended up calling her and it ended up being the love of my life. … She didn’t pick up, actually. I had to leave a voicemail.”
While Brady continually played coy on when he’d say goodbye to his signature sport, the TB12 Method author always said that spending more time with his family would be his reason for leaving.
However, the idea of walking away proved to be hard for the seven-time Super Bowl champion, who took home six trophies with the Patriots and one with the Bucs during his career.
“It’s been a huge part of my life for a long time, and I love thinking about it,” the University of Michigan alum said during a February 2021 press conference. “I think football to me is much more than just a sport because there’s the physical element, there’s a mental approach, you know, how you’re going to get the job done, and there’s the emotional part.”
Throughout his football journey, Bündchen was always right beside him, with a source exclusively telling Us Weekly in February 2021 that the model is “over the moon proud of Tom and his accomplishments thus far.”
When Brady announced his return to the NFL in March 2022 following a brief retirement one month prior, his marriage to Bündchen seemingly took a hit. Us confirmed in September 2022 that the pair hired divorce lawyers amid their relationship woes.
The duo announced in October 2022 that they had already split and finalized their divorce and were no longer together after 13 years of marriage. “We wish only the best for each other as we pursue whatever new chapters in our lives that are yet to be written,” Brady wrote via a social media statement at the time.
The supermodel echoed his sentiments in her own statement, adding, “I feel blessed for the time we had together and only wish the best for Tom always.”
Keep scrolling to see what both Bündchen and Brady have said about the athlete’s retirement goals over the years — including their statements on his temporary step back from the league in February 2022:
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Everything Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen Said About His NFL Retirement Before and After He Hung Up His Cleats
Not an easy decision. Tom Brady said a lot about his retirement over the years — both before his brief exit from the NFL in February 2022 and after his March 2022 comeback.
The football star, who played for the New England Patriots for 20 years before becoming a Tampa Bay Buccaneer in spring 2020, made it clear over the years that he wasn’t ready to stop playing football despite his age, even joking about his retirement in commercials.
However, the oldest quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl hinted on more than one occasion about when — if ever — he would hang up his cleats.
“We’ll see how long it goes,” Brady said in November 2019 when asked if he could stay on the field into his late 40s. “Easier said than done. I know the kind of effort I am putting in right now, but what a great privilege to play a sport that I love.”
While fans were happy to hear the athlete’s plans to stick around the NFL a little longer, his then-wife, Gisele Bündchen, wanted a little more clarification on the topic — and Brady understood why.
“I think my wife has, you know, held down the house for a long time now, and I think there’s things that she wants to accomplish,” he said during a September 2021 episode of his “Let’s Go” podcast. “You know, she hasn’t worked as much in the last 10, 12 years just raising our family and kind of committing to being in a life in Boston and then moving to Florida.”
The California native and Bündchen tied the knot in 2009 and welcomed son Benjamin the same year. In 2012, they welcomed daughter Vivian. Brady, who also shares son Jack with ex Bridget Moynahan, has called meeting the Brazilian model the best thing that ever happened to him.
“I think the one phone call that changed my life was my friend Ed, who called me one day and he said, ‘I have this girl and I think you should call her,’” he told WSJ. Magazine in September 2021. “I ended up calling her and it ended up being the love of my life. … She didn’t pick up, actually. I had to leave a voicemail.”
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While Brady continually played coy on when he’d say goodbye to his signature sport, the TB12 Method author always said that spending more time with his family would be his reason for leaving.
However, the idea of walking away proved to be hard for the seven-time Super Bowl champion, who took home six trophies with the Patriots and one with the Bucs during his career.
“It’s been a huge part of my life for a long time, and I love thinking about it,” the University of Michigan alum said during a February 2021 press conference. “I think football to me is much more than just a sport because there’s the physical element, there’s a mental approach, you know, how you’re going to get the job done, and there’s the emotional part.”
Throughout his football journey, Bündchen was always right beside him, with a source exclusively telling Us Weekly in February 2021 that the model is “over the moon proud of Tom and his accomplishments thus far.”
When Brady announced his return to the NFL in March 2022 following a brief retirement one month prior, his marriage to Bündchen seemingly took a hit. Us confirmed in September 2022 that the pair hired divorce lawyers amid their relationship woes.
The duo announced in October 2022 that they had already split and finalized their divorce and were no longer together after 13 years of marriage. “We wish only the best for each other as we pursue whatever new chapters in our lives that are yet to be written,” Brady wrote via a social media statement at the time.
The supermodel echoed his sentiments in her own statement, adding, “I feel blessed for the time we had together and only wish the best for Tom always.”
Keep scrolling to see what both Bündchen and Brady have said about the athlete’s retirement goals over the years — including their statements on his temporary step back from the league in February 2022:
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When You Know, You Know
“I think I’ll know when it’s time,” Brady told reporters during a pre-Super Bowl press conference in February 2021 when asked about how much longer he’ll keep playing. “I can never go into this game half-ass.”
When asked whether he would play past the age of 45, the former University of Michigan quarterback replied, “Yeah, definitely. It’s a physical sport and the perspective I have on that is — you never know.”
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More to Prove?
After Brady’s Florida team won the 2021 Super Bowl, Bündchen questioned whether he would finally be hang up his jersey. “All of a sudden, I saw my wife and I gave her a big hug,” he said during a March 2021 episode of The Late Late Show With James Corden. “And just as I did it, she said, ‘What more do you have to prove?’”
His answer was simply to bring her in for a tight embrace. “I was trying to figure out a way to change the subject really quick,” he joked.
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Family vs. Football
“Beyond [next year’s season], I don’t know,” he told the Wall Street Journal Magazine in September 2021. “Maybe it’s another year after that; maybe it’s two. I’ll have to see where I’m at with my family. That’s probably the overriding factor — what I’m missing out on.”
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Tough Conversations
Brady admitted that to accommodate his athletic aspirations, Bündchen put her career on hold and focused on their children. “But that’s an issue, and it’s a very difficult issue to reconcile without just saying, ‘Hey, it’s time to retire,’” the NFL champion revealed on an October 2021 episode of his “Let’s Go” podcast. “And I think there’s, you know, we’re coming to the end here too, so I don’t want to miss any of the kids’ stuff.”
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Playing Until He’s 50?
When teammate Rob Gronkowski asked the then 44-year-old Brady in September 2021 if he could play until he was 50 years old, the NFL MVP seemed unfazed by the idea. “I don’t find it so difficult,” he explained during an episode of the “Tommy and Gronky” YouTube series. “I think I can. I think it’s a yes.”
The Ted 2 actor would later clarify his comments on an episode of his podcast that same month, explaining that the question wasn’t whether he wanted to keep playing, but whether he physically could.
“So, I think from my body standpoint and how I’ve been able to take care of myself over the years, [it] can put me in a position to do that, and you never know what can happen as I keep moving forward,” he said. “I know I’m having a lot of fun playing. And again, at my age, I’ve agreed to play next year, as well, but beyond that, I’ll just take it year by year.”
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‘A Great Decision’ for the Whole Family
“I think when the time is right I’ll be ready to make a decision one way or another,” Brady said on the SiriusXM podcast “Let’s Go! with Tom Brady, Larry Fitzgerald and Jim Gray” in January 2022, after widespread reports that he decided to retire. “Literally, it’s day to day with me. I’m just trying to do the best I can every day and evaluate things as they come and trying to make a great decision for me and my family.”
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The Time Has Come
“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. There is physical, mental and emotional challenge EVERY single day that has allowed me to maximize my highest potential. And I have tried my very best these past 22 years. There are no shortcuts to success on the field or in life. This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes, I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore,” Brady began a lengthy statement in February 2022, confirming he would no longer play football professionally. “I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention.”
He continued: “I’ve done a lot of reflecting the past week and have asked myself difficult questions. And I am so proud of what we have achieved. My teammates, coaches, fellow competitors, and fans deserve 100% of me, but right now, it’s best I leave the field of play to the next generation of dedicated and committed athletes.”
The quarterback, who played for 22 seasons in the NFL, thanked his Tampa Bay teammates, writing, “I love you guys, and I have loved going to battle with you. … I couldn’t be happier with what we accomplished together.”
He also gave his then-wife and kids a shout-out, saying, “Our family is my greatest achievement. I always came off the field and home to the most loving and supportive wife who has done EVERYTHING for our family to allow me to focus on my career. Her selflessness allowed me to reach new heights professionally, and I am beyond words what you mean to me and our family.”
Brady later shared a message of love to his former team, the New England Patriots, after initially leaving them out of his retirement statement. “Thank you Patriots Nation,” he tweeted. “[I’m] beyond grateful and love you all.”
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It’s Been a Wild Ride
“What a ride @tombrady! So many memories! When I met you over 15 years ago, I didn’t know the first thing about football. But cheering for you and seeing you do what you love most made me learn about this wonderful game to the point that I seriously believed I knew more than the referees!” the mother of two wrote via an Instagram statement in February 2022 celebrating Brady’s retirement. “I’m so proud of you, and of everything you have had to overcome physically and emotionally over the years. I am in awe of your dedication, and of everything you have achieved. You love what you do, and you leave behind a legacy that is a beautiful example for future generations.”
The Lessons: My Path to a Meaningful Life author gushed over her then-husband for being the “most dedicated, focused and mentally tough person I have ever met. You never once complained over the years about all the bruises and aches and pains. You just kept focusing on your goal to go out there and be the best leader there was to all your teammates.”
She continued: “I know how excited you are about the next chapter of your life. Watching you work so hard in your football career and seeing the dedication you are now putting into all your new endeavors is incredibly inspiring. There is nothing you can’t achieve. I have always been here for you, you know that, and I’m as excited as you are for what the future holds!”
Bündchen concluded by thanking all of Brady’s fans, writing, “Words can’t really express how grateful I am to everyone who has been so supportive of my husband and our family for so many years. With all my love, Gisele.”
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Playing for the Masses
“As I look back on my career in football, the memories we have made, and the relationships we have built are by far the most meaningful,” Brady wrote via Instagram in February 2022 alongside a video montage of his career highlights mixed with family celebrations. “Yes, the scoreboard was important, but the toughest times always taught me the most important lessons.”
The seven-time Super Bowl champion reflected on his 22-year stint as an NFL quarterback, adding, “I am grateful to the people that stood with me through every high and low, win and loss, and the memories we created TOGETHER. Memories that won’t ever fade.”
He explained that he “played for the name on the front of my jersey and the name on the back of my jersey. I played for my friends, my family, and our community — every single one of you — that have given me what I have today.”
Brady’s look back included snippets of his Super Bowl wins, sideline thrills and many of his family triumphs over the past two decades. “I love you all. Thank you ALL for making this incredible journey possible,” he concluded.
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Retirement Fake Out
“These past two months I’ve realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands. That time will come,” Brady wrote via Twitter in March 2022, announcing he was unretiring just six weeks after making his exit. “But it’s not now. I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family. They make it all possible. I’m coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa. Unfinished business LFG.”
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1 More Championship?
“Could this be my last year? Absolutely. Could I change my mind? Absolutely. I’ve realized I don’t have five years left,” the athlete told Variety in July 2022. “I want to do it my way. I want to give it everything I got and see where I’m at. My body feels really good. I’ve had a lot of traumatic injuries over the years, but if things go really smoothly and we win, that’d be great.”
The father of three noted that he would “obviously” want to win his eighth Super Bowl before hanging up his cleats, explaining that it would be “the greatest way to end.” He added: “I just have a competitive fire that got the best of me.”
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Gisele Had ‘Concerns’
The former Victoria’s Secret Angel discussed Brady’s whirlwind retirement and NFL return shortly after a source exclusively told Us there was “tension” in the couple’s marriage. “Obviously, I have my concerns — this is a very violent sport, and I have my children and I would like him to be more present,” she said in Elle‘s October 2022 cover story. “I have definitely had those conversations with him over and over again. But ultimately, I feel that everybody has to make a decision that works for [them]. He needs to follow his joy, too.”
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No Mid-Season Stop in Sight
The athlete shut down mid-season retirement speculation during an October 2022 press conference. “Well, that’s really why I’m here, I’m here to announce, finally, you guys have pushed me to the brink,” he joked when asked by reporters whether he would potentially leave the league during the 2022 season amid drama with Bündchen.
Brady clarified, “No. … I love the sport, I love the teammates, and I want to go do a good job for this team like I always have. So, no retirement in my future.”
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Not a Quitter
“I said last week that there’s no immediate retirement in my future. There was a retirement in the past, but I moved on from that,” Brady said during an October 2022 episode of his “Let’s Go” podcast. “I made a commitment to this team and I love this team and I love this organization. I told them in March I was playing and I’ve never quit on anything in my life. I know … that we all count on one another to be at our best and to work hard and to put the team first. And that’s what you commit to and that’s what you want your teammates to commit to as well.”
He later added, “I want to keep fighting as hard as I can and I’m always trying to do better. I’m always trying to work hard and I’m always trying to commit more to the things that are important to me. And this team is very important to me and I certainly want to be the best I can be for them.”
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Pushing Through the Pain
The NFL star revealed that he almost quit earlier in his career due to an injury.
“When I was 27, I almost retired from the game of football, because of elbow pain,” he said in November 2022 video for his company, TB12. “Now, I’m 45 years old and I’m still here. No matter the age, no matter the obstacles, it’s about how you feel, about what you do.”
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Not Making a Decision Just Yet
“I think next time I decide to retire, that’s it for me,” Brady said on his “Let’s Go!” podcast in December 2022. “So whenever that day comes, we’ll figure it out.” At the time, the athlete admitted he couldn’t picture himself stepping away from the NFL. “I really don’t. I think what I really realized last year was you’ve got to be really sure to do that. And for me, you know, a lot of people have kind of gone through this situation,” he continued. “I’m going to take my time, whenever that time does come.”
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Not Giving Up Yet
When the Buccaneers lost a playoffs game to the Dallas Cowboys in January 2023, Brady was noncommittal about his retirement plans when talking to reporters following the defeat.
“This has been a lot of focus on, you know, this game. So, yeah. It’ll just be one day at a time. Truly,” the athlete said per TMZ.
He then addressed Buccaneers reporters, saying, “Thank you everybody for welcoming me. Just very grateful for the respect, and I hope I gave the same thing back to you guys. So, thank you very much.”