Legendary quarterback Tom Brady has announced his retirement after 23 seasons in the NFL, a year to the day after last year’s short-lived decision to leave the game.
“I’m retiring. For good,” he said in a video posted to his social media accounts. “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,”
The 45-year-old leaves the NFL as arguably the greatest player of all time, winning seven Super Bowls between the Patriots and Buccaneers in a career that spanned from 2000 to ’22. His most recent title came in Super Bowl LV, at the end of his first year with the Buccaneers.
Here is a look at Sports Illustrated’s coverage of Brady’s career and retirement announcement:
Feb. 1, 2023: Tom Brady announces retirement (again)
Brady made the announcement via his social media accounts, saying he was retiring from the NFL, “for good.”
News and reaction from Wednesday, as the 45-year-old ended days’ worth of speculation around his playing status since the Buccaneers were eliminated from the NFL playoffs:
- Watch Tom Brady’s official retirement announcement
- How we’ll know it’s for good this time
- Albert Breer’s takeaways on Brady
- Brady made yet another shrewd choice by retiring
- Sports world reacts to Brady’s announcement
- Brady is still the fantasy G.O.A.T.
- One year ago today, Brady retired the first time
- Buccaneers’ official statement
SI Vault: Some of our top stories from Brady’s career:
- 2005 Sportsperson of the Year Award: Why Tom Brady Is the Ultimate Teammate
- 2009: ’I Am Pushing Myself ... There Is Nothing I Can’t Do’
- 2012: Tom Brady, As You Forgot Him
- 2017: The Brotherhood of Brady, From Michigan to Now
- 2017: Avocado Ice Cream? Therapeutic PJs? We Take on the TB12 Method.
- 2017: The Zen Winning a Fifth Super Bowl Has Brought Tom Brady
- 2021 Sportsperson of the Year Award: Brady’s Victory Over Time Itself
SI Cover Stories: Brady’s Super Bowl victories:
- Feb. 3, 2002/SB XXXVI: Patriots Stun Rams Behind Their Transformed Coach and Oh-So-Cool Quarterback
- Feb. 1, 2004/SB XXXVIII: Brady, Patriots Fight to the Finish to Beat Carolina
- Feb. 6, 2005/SB XXXIX: Brady, Bill Belichick, Pats Win Third Super Bowl
- Feb. 1, 2015/SB XLIX: Despite Controversies, Patriots, Brady End Title Drought
- Feb. 5, 2017/SB LI: Brady Seals Status As Greatest Quarterback of All Time
- Feb. 3, 2019/SB LIII: With History Hanging in the Air, Brady, New England Win Again
- Feb. 7, 2021/SB LV: Brady Does It Again, This Time With the Bucs
Tom Brady: The Sports Illustrated Covers
April 15, 2002
Brian Lanker/Sports Illustrated
February 9, 2004
John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated
September 6, 2004
Bob Rosato/Sports Illustrated
October 18, 2004
Damian Strohmeyer/Sports Illustrated
February 7, 2005
Bob Rosato/Sports Illustrated
November 7, 2005
Bob Rosato/Sports Illustrated & Peter Read Miller/Sports Illustrated
December 12, 2005
Lynn Johnson/Sports Illustrated
October 22, 2007
John Biever/Sports Illustrated
February 4, 2008
Bob Rosato/Sports Illustrated & John Iacono/Sports Illustrated
September 1, 2008
Bob Rosato/Sports Illustrated
June 1, 2009
Peter Read Miller/Sports Illustrated
September 20, 2010
Damian Strohmeyer/Sports Illustrated
January 24, 2011
David Bergman/Sports Illustrated
January 9, 2012
Damian Strohmeyer/Sports Illustrated
January 30, 2012
Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated
February 9, 2015
Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated
September 14, 2015
William J. Hennessy Jr./CourtroomArt.com
January 25, 2016
John Mersits/CSM & Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
February 1, 2016
Donald Miralle/Sports Illustrated
January 23, 2017
Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
January 30, 2017
Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated & Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
September 4, 2017
January 29, 2018
Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated
February 11, 2019
Rob Tringali/Sports Illustrated
December 2021
Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated
