Bucs' Tom Brady Considers Whether To Retire Or Keep Playing

TAMPA, FL — Tom Brady still hasn't said whether he will retire or play the final year of his three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next season, but he did suggest Monday the end is near.

"You think you're gonna live forever. We're not. We think we're gonna play forever. We're not," the Bucs quarterback told Jim Gray in their weekly "Let's Go!" podcast a day after his 22nd NFL season came to an end with Sunday's 30-27 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Brady, 44, said if Sunday was his last game, he could walk away "proud and satisfied" even though the Buccaneers' bid to become the first repeat Super Bowl Champions since the Patriots did it in 2003 and 2004 came up short. Brady said he was looking forward to spending more time with his family in the off season, and that his family would play a central role in his decision to play another season or retire.

"The biggest difference now that I'm older is I have kids now, too, you know, and I care about them a lot as well. They've been my biggest supporters. My wife is my biggest supporter," Brady said. "It pains her to see me get hit out there. And she deserves what she needs from me as a husband, and my kids deserve what they need from me as a dad."

Brady played 20 seasons with the Patriots and accumulated six Super Bowl rings before signing with Tampa Bay before the start of the 2020 season, leading his new team to a Super Bowl win.

"The team doesn't deserve anything less than my best," Brady said. "And if I feel like I'm not committed to that, or I can't play at a championship level, then you gotta give someone else a chance to play."

Although Tampa Bay fans were hyped about the possibility of the Bucs going to the Super Bowl for the second year in a row, they said the let-down hasn't impacted their loyalty toward the team.

"Of course, we love you guys. That doesn’t change," Matt Cain told the team on their Facebook page. "Fans can say that they’re disappointed in the awful secondary that cost us that game and still support their team. I think calling out things makes you a better fan because it shows that you understand the game and the needs your team has.

"Super Bowl followed by a Division win?" said Joe Toller. "After the last decade-plus, I'm thrilled! I'm just happy to see us contending!"

"Regardless, the last 14 months of Bucs football have been the best in my over 35 years of fandom," said Shervin Rassa.

"Still wishing it didn’t end the way it did on Sunday, but this team has fought through so much," Kim Hancock said. "Proud to be a Bucs fan…raise the flags and fire the cannons!"

"Love the Bucs no matter what!" said Juli Riv. "These have been the best two years as a fan. But no matter what comes next, I’ll still be cheering them on. Excited for next season!"

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