Tom Brady has not retired — yet.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback denied that he has made a retirement decision in an interview Monday with Larry Fitzgerald and Jim Gray on SiriusXM’s Let’s Go podcast after it was reported over the weekend that he was ready to hang up his cleats. Instead, Brady said he is taking it “day by day” and trying to make the best decision for his family.
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“It takes some time to really evaluate how you feel and what you want to do, and I think when the time’s right, I’ll be ready to make a decision one way or another,” he said.
Brady emphasized that the focus should instead be on the rest of the NFL’s current season. “When that decision comes, it’ll come,” he said.
Here is part one of Tom Brady’s ‘Let’s Go! Podcast’ appearance addressing his retirement decision. pic.twitter.com/Lz0K28UI6c
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) February 1, 2022
Here is part two of Tom Brady’s ‘Let’s Go! Podcast’ appearance addressing his retirement decision.
You’ll be able to hear the entire episode, including a conversation with Joe Burrow here: https://t.co/Oio6lZdlj1 pic.twitter.com/Zt3sv1P57d
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) February 1, 2022
The Los Angeles Rams will play the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl on Feb. 13. The Rams will host the Bengals in LA, only the second occasion in Super Bowl history that a team is playing in their home stadium — the first occasion being last year when the Buccaneers played the Kansas City Chiefs in Tampa Bay.
Brady, 44, said his weekend took a turn when rumors started swirling of his retirement but did not specify if he knew where the rumors originated.
“For me, I was trying to enjoy a nice weekend. It didn’t quite turn out that way because my phone got really busy, but that’s just part of being in the situation I’m in,” he said.
Brady did not specify a time frame for when a decision would be made, indicating it would be when “the time was right.”
As reports of Brady’s retirement rolled in over the weekend, many took to social media to post their premature tributes to the seven-time Super Bowl champ, including one of his longtime teammates, Julian Edelman. The NFL’s official Twitter account also posted several tribute photos and posts for Brady, seemingly confirming his retirement.
Later, Brady’s agent, Don Yee, said Brady was “the only person” who can announce his plans “with complete accuracy.”
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For the majority of his NFL career, Brady played for the New England Patriots and established a dynasty with head coach Bill Belichick. Two years ago, Brady left for the Buccaneers, winning his seventh Super Bowl in his first year there.
After the Buccaneers loss to the Rams in the playoffs this season, Brady addressed speculation about his future on Instagram, writing, “This week, all that is on my mind is the gratitude I have for this team and the fans that have supported us all year long.”
