World reacts as Tom Brady announces retirement after 22 seasons

Tom Brady has reportedly pulled the pin on his NFL career at the ripe old age of 44, sparking a flood of tributes from the football world.

Father Time has finally come for the greatest quarterback in NFL history.

American football legend Tom Brady is retiring at the age of 44 after 22 decorated seasons in the NFL, ESPN reported on Sunday.

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The New York Post reports the future Hall of Fame quarterback finishes his career with seven Super Bowl championships, three MVPs and five Super Bowl MVPs. He won six championships across 20 seasons with New England before winning another last year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after leaving the Patriots in free agency.

Brady’s quest for one more title, and perhaps a storybook ending to his career, was cut short last Sunday when the Buccaneers fell to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC divisional round of the playoffs. He led what looked like yet another game-winning drive in the final minutes before the Rams played spoiler and won with a field goal as time expired.

After the loss, Brady was noncommittal about his future, but later provided some hints about what would go into his decision to retire.

Brady had long talked about playing until he was 45 — his birthday is in August — but spoke earlier this week of his family playing a big role in his decision on whether or not to retire.

He’s one of a kind. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

“My wife is my biggest supporter,” Brady said on his Let’s Go! podcast. “It pains her to see me get hit out there, and she deserves what she needs from me as a husband and my kids deserve what they need from me as a dad.

“I’m gonna spend some time with them and give them what they need, because they’ve really been giving me what I need the last six months — to do what I need to do and I said this a few years ago.

“It’s what relationships are all about. It’s not always about what I want. It’s about what we want as a family. And I’m gonna spend a lot of time with them and figure out in the future what’s next.”

After an unlikely rise to stardom, as a sixth-round pick (199th overall) of the Patriots in 2000, Brady remained incredibly durable throughout his career.

Since taking over for the injured Drew Bledsoe in 2001 and never losing the starting quarterback job again, Brady started 316 games out of a possible 335.

Fans, journalists, current and former teammates and other NFL stars were all quick to react to the news of Brady’s retirement.

Thanks for the memories, babe. @TomBradypic.twitter.com/lCqCVn13tI

— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) January 29, 2022

An absolute honor to share this field with you through so many battles! Enjoy retirement 🐐 @TomBrady#AllDaypic.twitter.com/izlPzUXZKp

— Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson) January 29, 2022

Not the news you wanted to see today but also appreciative to witness greatness. Congratulations on retirement @TomBrady 🐐

— AJ Brown (@1kalwaysopen_) January 29, 2022

In all seriousness, we will never see another Tom Brady again. Overlooked prospect who defied the odds, stockpiled hardware, shattered records and exhibited extraordinary longevity.

GOAT is an overused term in the world of sports, but it incontestably applies.

— Brad Evans (@NoisyHuevos) January 29, 2022

Congrats to the greatest QB to ever lace em up on a helluva career @TomBrady#LFG 🤠🙏🏾

— DEVIN WHITE (@DevinWhite__40) January 29, 2022

Tom Brady’s resume is unmatched: ⁰⁰7x Super Bowl Champion
5x Super Bowl MVP
3x NFL MVP
15x Pro Bowl
5x NFL Passing Touchdowns Leader
4x NFL Passing Yards Leader
2x NFL Offensive Player of the Year
3x First-Team All-Pro⁰⁰What a run pic.twitter.com/FSiYYh3mD0

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 29, 2022

Stunned! I was in high school when the NFL was last without Tom Brady. The game, the league, the culture of the NFL is unrecognizable now versus what it was before Brady arrived, and in many ways, he was helping to spur those changes along.

— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) January 29, 2022

I remember watching @TomBrady beat my Philadelphia Eagles in the 2005 Super Bowl and crying my eyes out, and then the tears of joy when we beat him in the Super Bowl 4 years ago. Hats off to the greatest to ever do it and the 22 years of memories he gave us all ✊🏾💯

— Breland (@breland) January 29, 2022

This story first appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission