'I'm retiring. For good'; NFL great Tom Brady announces his playing days are over

TAMPA  — Tom Brady, who won a record seven Super Bowls for New England and Tampa, has announced his retirement.

Rumors have been swirling around for the last few days that Brady could be pondering move to his hometown San Francisco 49ers after injuries to young quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Trey Lance and the expected departure of veteran Jimmy Garoppolo.

But Wednesday's announcement ends those rumors. 

Brady — the most successful quarterback in NFL history, and one of the greatest athletes in team sports — posted the announcement on social media Wednesday morning, a brief video lasting just under one minute.

"I'm retiring... for good. 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. So, I won't be long winded, you only get one super emotional retirement essay and I used mine up last year," Brady said. "So really, thank you guys so much to every single one of you for supporting me, my family, my friends, teammates, my competitors, I could go on forever, there's too many."

He briefly retired after the 2021 season, but wound up coming back for one more year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He retires at age 45, the owner of numerous passing records in an unprecedented 23-year career.

A year ago when he retired, it was in the form of a long Instagram post. But about six weeks later, he decided to come back for one more run. The Buccaneers — with whom he won a Super Bowl two seasons ago — made the playoffs again this season, losing in their playoff opener. And at the time, it begged the question about whether Brady would play again.

Only a couple weeks later, he has given the answer.

"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 says in the video. "I won't be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay and I used mine up last year.

"I really thank you guys so much, to every single one of you for supporting me. My family, my friends, teammates, my competitors. I could go on forever. There's too many. Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn't change a thing. Love you all."

Brady -- who grew up in San Mateo County -- is the NFL's career leader in yards passing (89,214) and touchdowns (649). He's the only player to win more than five Super Bowls and has been MVP of the game five times.

Brady has won three NFL MVP awards, been a first-team All-Pro three times and selected to the Pro Bowl 15 times.

Brady and supermodel Gisele Bündchen finalized their divorce this past fall, during the Bucs' season. It ended a 13-year marriage between two superstars who respectively reached the pinnacles of football and fashion.

It was announced last year that when Brady retires from playing, he would join Fox Sports as a television analyst in a 10-year, $375 million deal.

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• San Francisco 49ers