NFL
Bucs star Tom Brady not slowing down ahead of 22nd NFL season
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, 44, spoke to the media after Wednesday's practice.
Tom Brady is a seven-time Super Bowl champion who celebrated his 44th birthday earlier this month, but the evergreen Tampa Bay Buccaneers superstar is not slowing down ahead of the NFL season.
Brady – who is the most successful player in NFL history – is gearing up for his 22nd season in the league after guiding the Buccaneers to glory last term.
The quarterback underwent a knee operation following Super Bowl LV, which he earned MVP honours and a contract extension.
Brady has already defied his age, but Father Time is not derailing the former New England Patriots QB.
Brady still having fun
"It's really fun for me. I love physically to train and put myself in a position to compete," Brady told reporters on Wednesday.
"I love the mental aspect of the sport. I have a lot of fun doing it. It's a lot of joy in my life.
"You can do anything with people you want to be with. You're with your kids, you're with your family, it doesn't matter if you're at the park, the house, the movies, you'll have a great time."
Brady – in his first season with the Buccaneers after 20 successful years at the Patriots – claimed his seventh Lombardi Trophy as Tampa Bay became the first team in NFL history to win the Super Bowl at their home stadium, ending the Kansas City Chiefs' hopes of retaining the title in a 31-9 rout.
He threw for 4,633 yards and 40 touchdowns with 12 interceptions, his passer rating of 102.2 his highest since his MVP season of 2017 (102.8).
Only Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes had more completions of 20 yards or more than Brady's 63 as he experienced a revival as a downfield passer in Tampa.
In the playoffs, he helped the Bucs come through a gauntlet, winning three games on the road to get to the Super Bowl.
By defeating Mahomes and the Chiefs, the Bucs became the first team to win three games against former Super Bowl MVPs in the same postseason having also seen off Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints and Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.
"We've got to keep earning it," Brady said. "I don't think there's any aspect of me that thinks what I've done last year means anything. I've got to go do it this year."
The Buccaneers will open their title defence against the Dallas Cowboys on September 9.