Bucs' Tom Brady To Retire After Missing Super Bowl Berth: ESPN

TAMPA, FL — Tom Brady — who led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl championship and the New England Patriots to six trophies — has decided to retire from the NFL, according to ESPN.

Dubbed the greatest of all time to play the game by many players, fans and pundits, Brady said Jan. 24 that his family would help him decide if it was time to walk away from the game.

He has one year remaining on his three-year contract with the Buccaneers next season.

Since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to the Los Angeles Rams last week, multiple sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Brady is preparing his retirement announcement along with plans for the future.

Brady’s decision seemed to be confirmed by TB12 Sports, the health and wellness company developed by Brady and his longtime trainer, Alex Guerrero, The Washington Post reported.

TB12 tweeted: "7 Super Bowl Rings. 5 Super Bowl MVPs. 3 League MVP Awards. 22 Incredible Seasons. Thank you for it all, @TomBrady."

But later in the day Brady’s company deleted its retirement tweet, the Post said. Brady has not told the Buccaneers that he’s done playing.

Related: Buccaneers Mum On Brady's Retirement Announcement During Parade

Sources said Brady's decision to retire is based on family and health, and he didn't want to go through a "farewell season," ESPN said.

Brady will announce his retirement so it does not upstage the NFL's postseason games or Super Bowl, Schefter reported.

The Buccaneers hoped to persuade Brady to play one more year, but the team recognizes it has to make plans for next season without him, ESPN said.

"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 a 30-27 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 23 in the playoffs.

Brady, 44, said if that 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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• Tom Brady Signs Multi-Year Contract With Tampa Bay Bucs

Patch editors D'Ann White and Dave Copeland contributed to this story.