In Super Bowl LV, Tom Brady and the Buccaneers came out on top against the Kansas City Chiefs with a score of 31-9. Many believed after just one year with the Buccaneers that Brady would retire after winning his seventh championship ring. But shortly after the final week of football, reports went out that Brady would be back for at least one more year. 

In the 2021-22 season, the Buccaneers finished 1st in the NFC South with a record of 13-4. The Buccaneers beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the NFL playoffs but fell just short of the Los Angeles Rams on a last-minute field goal, making the final score a 27-30Buccaneers loss. 

After not finishing the end goal during the season, many football fans question if Brady will come back for another season to fight for an eighth championship. On Jan. 29, 2022, social media started blowing up with reports that the G.O.A.T. was finally deciding to retire. Videos and pictures were released commemorating Brady’s 22 years in the NFL. This left many fans and athletes in shock, former competitors including Michael Thomas tweeted out his respect for Brady about this big accomplishment. 

With rumors quickly spreading but not a final answer from Brady, Brady’s father told reporters that Brady had not decided yet about retirement. This quickly shut down rumors, but many fans still believed that this would be the end of the Brady era. 

On Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, Brady put out a post stating he has decided to retire from his football career. In his statement he said, “I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore.” He continues, “I’ve done a lot of reflecting the past week and have asked myself difficult questions. And I am so proud of what we have achieved.” He went on to thank the organization and his family. 

After 22 seasons in the NFL, seven championships, ten Super Bowl appearances and three MVPs, many say this is the “end of an era” and leaves a big question mark in the Buccaneer franchise but an exclamation mark to the end of Brady’s career.