Tom Brady has formally announced his retirement from American football.
After a glittering career in which he won seven Super Bowls, the 44-year-old confirmed reports that had emerged late last month claiming he was looking to bring the curtain down on one of the most remarkable careers in sporting history.
A three-time NFL MVP, five-time Super Bowl MVP and a 15-time Pro Bowler, Brady’s mark on the sport will surely last forever. Even in his final season, the quarterback threw a league-high 5.316 passing yards.
An all-time legend of the NFL, his last game came as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round of the play-offs.
Writing in a message posted on his social media feed, Brady spoke of the intense challenge required to keep performing at the top level of elite sport and of how he wanted to focus on other things in his life.
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) February 1, 2022
