Will Tom Brady retire now that the Cowboys have ended the Buccaneers’ season?

When Tom Brady walked away at the end of last season, nobody was fooled. Not really. It was pretty clear from looking at him that he still had something knocking around in the basement.

2022 has been an altogether different story for the legendary quarterback. While the Bucs are still in the fight, this season has been a losing one, Brady’s first, and there is an air that he is perhaps ready for a pipe and slippers. Or at least, more ready than he was a year ago.

What has Tom Brady said about his possible retirement?

In classic Tom Brady style, he has said not very much about any possible retirement. Or rather, in what he has said, he gives very little away.

An NFL Network report said that “all options are on the table” and that Brady certainly “feels good enough to keep playing.”

Through a tough season that included him playing through the collapse of his marriage, Brady has maintained a kind of reticence when asked about the impending end of his career.

“We all have really unique challenges to our life. I’m 45 years old, man. There’s a lot of shit going on. Just gotta try to figure out life the best you can. It’s a continuous process.”

Speaking in his podcast in December, Tom Brady said, “You know, I think what I really realized last year was you’ve got to be really sure to do that (retire),” adding that when he next decides to retire, it will be a final decision.

Entering free agency for only the second time in his storied career, Brady will make over $35 million in “dead cap” money from Tampa Bay next season.

Although Brady is circumspect on the issue, this season is widely expected to be his last in the NFL. With the Dallas Cowboys 31-14 thrashing putting paid to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ season, this could very well be the last time that Brady will ever suit up. And love him or hate him, you have to stand to the side of the path and doff your hat to the passing of one of the greatest careers in NFL history.