Tom Brady Breaks Silence Amid Retirement Reports

Foxborough MA

31 January, 2022

2:50 PM

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BOSTON — Tom Brady is still "day to day" on whether he'll retire, contradicting a widely circulated weekend report that he made his decision to step away from football. Brady, speaking Monday night on his "Let's Go!" podcast with broadcasting buddy Jim Gray and former NFL receiver Larry Fitzgerald, finally broke his silence on RetirementGate. "We're in such an era of information and people want to be in front of the news often," Brady said. "I totally understand that. I understand that's the environment we're in. I think for me, it's just literally day to day with me." The 44-year-old quarterback didn't say he'll continue his career, but did say he's still considering his options. "When the time is right, I'll be ready to make a decision," he said. News outlets, including Patch, ran with ESPN's report Saturday that Brady had decided to retire. Past and current teammates congratulated the GOAT — "Greatest Of All Time" — on social media. Even his TB12 brand's Twitter account got in on the farewell, before deleting it. "I'm responsible for what I say or do and not for what others say or do," Brady said. The TB12 backtracking came after Brady's camp and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers largely denied such a decision had been made. Brady's agent, Don Yee, didn't confirm the report but said his client would soon make an announcement on his plans. Brady's dad, Tom Brady Sr., was much more forceful in his response, telling KRON in Tampa his son has not decided to retire. The Buccaneers said Brady had contacted them after the report and said his mind had not yet been made up. Conspicuously absent from the denials was Brady himself, who has a social media account and would be able to confirm or deny any reports with ease. There has been speculation Brady was unhappy with his plans being leaked through the media, and the ensuing confusion was the result of Brady wanting to make the announcement on his own time. Brady had sounded like a man leaning toward retirement following his team's last-second loss to the Rams in the NFC divisional round, saying he would discuss with his family. ESPN reported Brady's family and health were key factors in his retirement decision, and to a lesser extent the Buccaneers' championship window potentially closing.