NFL great Tom Brady makes retirement U-turn after six weeks

SOURCE: BBC NEWS – Tom Brady, one of the greatest players in NFL history, is coming back for his 23rd season just six weeks after announcing his retirement.

“These past two months I’ve realised my place is still on the field and not in the stands,” he said on social media.

“That time will come. But it’s not now. I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family. They make it all possible. I’m coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa.”

After being selected by the New England Patriots with the 199th pick of the 2000 draft, Brady led the franchise to six Super Bowl wins.

He left for the Bucs in 2020 and helped them win the Super Bowl in his first season, being named the game’s Most Valuable Player for the fifth time.

A three-time NFL season MVP, he led Tampa Bay back to the playoffs last season and still had a year remaining on his contract with the Bucs when he announced his retirement.

The franchise was yet to sign a new quarterback and, when asked about a possible return for Brady earlier this month, coach Bruce Arians said: “That door is never closed.”

In his final game of the 2021 season, Brady narrowly failed to pull off a sensational comeback from 27-3 down in the play-offs as the Bucs ultimately lost 30-27 to the eventual Super Bowl winners, the Los Angeles Rams.

He amassed a career-high 5,316 passing yards last season and holds the all-time records for passing yards (84,520) and touchdowns (624).

The Bucs have been owned since 1995 by the Glazer family, who have also owned Premier League club Manchester United since 2005.

Brady and his two sons were guests of the Glazers at Saturday’s 3-2 win over Tottenham at Old Trafford, during which Brady met former manager Sir Alex Ferguson and the first-team squad, including forwarding Cristiano Ronaldo.