Some consider Tom Brady the greatest professional athlete to play the sport of football. Others absolutely despise the former Patriot turned Buccaneer. No matter how people feel about him, Brady has announced his retirement.

The announcement came on February 1st, after what many regard as the best career in the NFL ever.

Brady led the New England Patriots as a starter for 18 seasons. In those 18 seasons he captained the team to 17 division titles, 13 AFC championships, 9 Super Bowls, 6 of which they won. Then, in his final 2 seasons, he led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to two playoff appearances, a Super Bowl win, and 2 division titles. Throughout his career, Brady won the Most Valuable Player award five times. He holds most records for the Quarterback position. For example, he has the most passing yards, touchdown passes, and quarterback career wins.

Brady is first ballot Hall of Famer in many’s eyes when he becomes eligible in 2027. A first ballot Hall of Famer is someone who makes an appearance on the ballot in their first year of eligibility. 

In his retirement announcement on Instagram, Brady stated, “I’m just gonna take things as they come, I think that’s the best way to put it and I don’t think anything, you know, you never say never. At the same time I know that I’m very – I feel very good about my decision. I don’t know how I’ll feel six months from now.”

A lot of people expect that this is not the end for Brady, either because they just cannot believe it, or actually see him making a return in the future.