Tom Brady ends 22-season football career

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback announced his retirement Tuesday morning on Instagram after a leak on Saturday led to confusion about his future. In his post, he thanked his fans, family, and current team but did not mention the New England Patriots, where he played for over two decades. Brady said he will not make the “competitive commitment” to continue playing so he can spend more time with his wife and three children.

What are some highlights from his career? Brady started in 2000 as the 199th draft pick. That season, he led the New England Patriots to a Super Bowl victory. He’s the only player to win more than five Super Bowls and be named MVP of the game five times. At 44, he’s widely regarded as the most successful NFL player of all time. He is the career leader in passing yards (84,520) and touchdowns (624). In 2020, he left New England for Tampa Bay, a team that hadn’t won a playoff game in 18 years. The Buccaneers then won the Super Bowl in 2021.