Walking Away from the Game: NFL’s Tom Brady retires
Kasie Thomas, Sports Editor
After 22 seasons, seven rings and over 84,000 passing yards, quarterback Tom Brady has officially hung up his helmet and retired.
He posted on Instagram saying, “This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore. I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention.”
Brady entered the NFL Draft in 2000 after playing collegiately at Michigan. He was selected by the Patriots as the 199th pick in the sixth round, and he spent 20 seasons with the New England Patriots.
Then in the spring of 2020 he shocked the football world and decided to leave and sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
One great friendship Brady held on to on and off the field, and from New England to Tampa Bay, was Rob Gronkowski, better known as Gronk. Gronk thanked Brady for the memories and his friendship over the past 12 years.
“Tommy Boy!!! This football journey with you has been nothing short of special,” Gronk posted on Instagram.
Brady played his final game against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC semifinals and fell short going for his eighth ring.
Tom Brady posted on social media that football is an “all-in” sport, but now it was time for him to walk away and leave the football life he’s known.
NGU graduate, Eddie Martin, can understand what it is like to walk away from the game you’ve played most of your life.
Martin started playing football at seven years old in his hometown. He continued to play for 16 years and only ever missed one game.
The one thing he misses the most is the camaraderie on the North Greenville football team.
He said, “Some of my teammates have become truly like brothers.”
Martin said playing his final game was “bitter-sweet” knowing that it was the last time, but he also knew “new chapters were going to open.”
