Tom Brady should call it quits
Tom Joyce
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After not even a month and a half of retirement, Tom Brady returned last February to play once again for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2022 NFL season. It did not end well.
The team went 8-9 during the regular season and squeaked into the playoffs because the NFC South was arguably the weakest division in the NFL. The Dallas Cowboys then decisively beat the Bucs 31-14 in the NFC wild-card game on Monday night.
TOM BRADY’S FUTURE UNCERTAIN AFTER PLAYOFF LOSS TO COWBOYS
After this lackluster season, Brady should retire from the league for good this time.
Brady has nothing left to prove in football. He is the greatest quarterback of all time, and it is hard to imagine anyone eclipsing him any time soon. The 45-year-old is a seven-time Super Bowl champion who holds the NFL records for passing yards, completions, and touchdown passes.
Brady is still an NFL-caliber quarterback. His total quarterback rating ranked 18th out of 31 qualifying players during the 2022 NFL season, according to ESPN. So, while he is no longer among the best quarterbacks in the league, he can handle playing at this level.
If he wanted to, Brady could likely play at least a few more seasons in the NFL and be good enough to start for many teams. However, there is more to life than football — including being a father.
If Brady were to retire from the NFL, he would have more time to spend with his three children. Given his $250 million net worth, he is in a fortunate position to do just that.
Many working and middle-class people would love to spend more time with their children if they could afford it. If finances were not an issue, more mothers would prefer to stay home with their children or work part-time instead of full-time. Presumably, many fathers would also like to work fewer hours and spend more time with their children if finances were not a factor.
Plus, Brady will have plenty of other opportunities to make money without 300-pound men clobbering him and risking a traumatic brain injury.
He already has a Fox NFL color commentator position waiting for him once he retires. It’s reportedly a 10-year deal worth $375 million. Additionally, Brady has endorsement deals and has been in movies, including Ted 2. He could also expand his TB12 brand, which sells protein bars, books, workout supplements, and workout equipment, among other products. He likely has the potential to become a billionaire if he is smart with his money.
Brady’s NFL career to date is remarkable. He has enjoyed more success than any player ever to play in the league, and he helped inspire many children in New England and Florida to love football, myself included. However, there comes a time when people need to move on with their lives. Since Brady is no longer an elite quarterback and has plenty of money, he should see this early playoff exit as a sign that he should pursue other life endeavors, including spending more time with his children.
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Tom Joyce (@TomJoyceSports) is a political reporter for the New Boston Post in Massachusetts.