Will Tom Brady retire after this season? A question that stuck around Brett Favre for the waning moments of his career, has begun to haunt TB12 as he plays into his forties as well.
Is retirement on the table for the GOAT? Probably not, but Rob Ninkovich, a former teammate of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers superstar quarterback mentioned he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Brady retired at the end of their current playoff run. Here’s his quote from a recent appearance on ESPN (h/t USA Today).
“It wouldn’t surprise me if Tom Brady decided to walk away (this offseason) and do whatever he wants to do,” Ninkovich said Wednesday on ESPN’s “Get Up!” “Right now, Tom is in bonus time. How many 44-year-old quarterbacks have we seen throw for the amount of yards and touchdowns (he has)? He’ll be 45 in August. So, at this point right now, what else does he have to prove to anybody? What else does he have to check off the list?”
Rob Ninkovich offering his opinion about Tom Brady’s future plans
After 22 years, is Tom Brady thinking of calling it quits?
Brady, in search of his eighth Super Bowl, has given no indication that he plans to call it quits at the end of the year, or next season for that matter. If anything, he seems to keep pushing the limits, delaying any thoughts of retiring any time soon. He used to say 45 was the benchmark, which would have him retiring at the end of the season beginning in 2022-23.
More specifically, Brady seems to have his heart set on walking away when he feels he’s no longer at the top of his game, which he recently touched on in a Sports Illustrated interview
“Regressing would be a very difficult thing for me to see. As soon as I see myself regress, I’ll be like, I’m out. I don’t really want to see myself get bad. So it’s just a constant pursuit of trying not to be bad.”
Tom Brady speaking to SI about his future plans
Even Bucs offensive coordinator and popular head coaching candidate Byron Leftwich didn’t seem to give much thought to a possible TB12 retirement when asked during his weekly press conference after Ninkovich’s comments were brought up.
After leading the NFL in several major passing categories this season, it’s safe to say Leftwich is right. TB12 still plays at an elite level capable of winning more Super Bowls.
Why should the greatest quarterback of all time call it a career now?