Just a week into his retirement, Tom Brady said his playing days may not be over after all.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback replied “never say never” when host Jim Gray asked about the possibility of playing in the NFL in 2022 on the “Let’s Go!” podcast Monday.
“I’m just going to take things as they come. I think that’s the best way to put it, and I don’t think anything, you know, you never say never,” Brady said. “At the same time, I know that … I feel very good about my decision. I don’t know how I’ll feel six months from now.
“I try to make the best possible decision I can in the moment, which I did this last week. And, again, I think it’s not looking to reverse course. I’m definitely not looking to do that. But in the same time, I think you have to be realistic that you never know what challenges there are going to be in life. Again, I loved playing. I’m looking forward to doing things other than playing. That’s as honest as I can be with you there.”
Brady, at 44, led the NFL in passing attempts (719), completions (485), yards (5,316) and touchdown passes (43) in 2021 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In his first public comments about his retirement, Brady said the decision to walk away after 22 seasons with the New England Patriots (2000-19) and Bucs had more to do with family than with age or injuries.
“I think the choice is, everything certainly comes at a cost, and the cost is, ‘What am I missing out on other aspects of my life?'” Brady said on the podcast. “And things that are, as you get older, you experience things that are outside of the sport that demand the level of attention and energy that football has always gotten. And it’s time for me to commit to those types of things.
“A lot of things have come up over the years in the last 10 years of my life — as I’ve got closer to this decision this last week — and it, just in the end, felt like it was just the right time to do it. I think for anyone who loves the sport like I have over the years, it’ll always be in my heart, as it should be, because I’ve committed a lot of time and energy and hours to it. But at the same time, there’s a time and place for everything. I’ve had an amazing time and place doing it, and I’m just … I am really excited for what’s ahead, and I don’t know what that means or where it takes me, but I know that it’ll be fun and exciting and I’m going to make the most of whatever opportunities present themselves as I go forward.”
A 15-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time NFL MVP, Brady is the league’s all-time leader with 84,520 passing yards and 624 touchdown passes.
–Field Level Media