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Brady Retires Again... This Time For Good
Tom Brady says he is retiring "for good" from football, ending his 23-year career in the NFL.

Brady announced his decision Wednesday on social media, saying he "wouldn't change a thing" about his career.

Brady, 45, also announced he was retiring last year on Feb. 1, 2021, before changing his mind 40 days later and returning to play this past season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"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 said in a video on Twitter. "I won't be longwinded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay, and I used mine up last year, so really thank you guys so much to every single one of you for supporting me."

Jeff Darlington of ESPN reports that the Buccaneers found out Brady’s plans shortly before the rest of us. Brady reportedly informed the team of his plans at 6 a.m. on Wednesday.

Brady was slated to be a free agent entering the 2023 offseason. And while there had been plenty of speculation about where Brady might play in 2023, Darlington’s report indicates that there weren’t a lot of options in play.

Brady had reportedly “implied” to people close to him that his decision was about whether to remain with the Bucs or walk away from the game.

In the end, he chose the latter.

"My family, my friends, my teammates, my competitors -- I could go on forever, there's too many," Brady said in the video. "Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn't change a thing. Love you all."

Brady retires a seven-time Super Bowl champion, three-time NFL MVP, five-time Super Bowl MVP, two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, three-time first-team All-Pro honoree, three-time second-team All-Pro, 15-time Pro Bowler and 2009 Comeback Player of the Year winner. He was named to the NFL's 2000s and 2010s All-Decade Teams and the NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

He ranks No. 1 in NFL history in completions (7,753), pass attempts (12,050), yards (89,214), passing TDs (649), starts (333), QB wins (251), Pro Bowl appearances (15) and Super Bowl MVPs (five). Brady led the NFL in passing TDs five times (2002, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2021), the most such seasons by any player in NFL history.

As NFL.com's Kevin Patra suggested, in a team sport, no single player defined winning like Brady.

In his 23-season career, Brady made 20 postseason appearances, started 48 games, earned 35 wins, 10 Super Bowl appearances, seven Super Bowl victories, 1,200 postseason completions, 13,400 playoff passing yards, 88 postseason passing TDs, 14 game-winning drives and nine fourth-quarter comebacks, all most in NFL history.

Brady suffered the first losing season of his career after returning in 2022 but still made the postseason after helping the Bucs win the NFC South.

He set NFL records with 490 completions and 733 pass attempts, both most in a single season in league history.

The campaign might not have been Brady's best, and certainly wasn't his prettiest, but he wasn't the reason the Buccaneers struggled.

Even at 45 years old, Brady showed he could still sling it when protected.

Now, he'll move to the booth as a FOX NFL analyst to see if he can prove himself again.