Tom Brady announces retirement ‘for good’ after Gisele Bündchen divorce
Tom Brady is dropping the pigskin — “for good.”
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback announced his official retirement in a video posted to social media Wednesday morning and confirmed he would not be returning again.
“I’ll get to the point right away: I’m retiring for good,” he told the camera. “I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first.”
Brady, 45, joked that athletes only get “one super emotional retirement essay,” which he admittedly “used” up last year.
“Thank you, guys, so much to every single one of you for supporting me, my family, my friends, my teammates, my competitors,” he continued.
“Thank you, guys, for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
The athlete announced exactly one year ago, on Feb. 1, 2022, that he would be retiring after 22 seasons.
“This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore. 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 wrote in a social media post at the time, seemingly referring to his marriage to then-wife Gisele Bündchen and his children.
However, just over a month later, Brady un-retired and returned to the NFL, saying he belonged “on the field” and not “in the stands.”
The reversal appeared to be the final straw in his marriage to the former Victoria’s Secret Angel, as Page Six would go on to exclusively report in September 2022 that the couple were in an epic fight over the decision.
“There’s been trouble in the marriage over his decision to un-retire. Gisele has always been the one with the kids,” the insider shared.
“They had agreed he would retire to focus on the family, then he changed his mind.”
About a month later, Brady and Bündchen, 42, confirmed in separate statements that they had finalized their divorce.
“We arrived at this decision amicably and with gratitude for the time spent together,” he continued. “We are blessed with beautiful and wonderful children who will continue to be the center of our world in every way.”
Brady — who shares Benjamin, 13, and Vivian, 10, with the supermodel, as well as son Jack, 15, with ex Bridget Moynahan — said they planned on co-parenting.
Page Six broke the news that Brady and Bündchen were seen separately touring a Miami private school as an option for the kids, which may have been a hint that he was leaving Tampa Bay.
Brady and Bündchen married in February 2009 and marked their 13th wedding anniversary last year with tributes to each other.
