NFL legend Tom Brady is ‘expected’ to official retire for good come the end of the season.
The seven-time Super Bowl champion briefly walked away from the league earlier this year, announcing his retirement in February.
It was a storied 22-year career that included records upon records and multiple accolades.
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However, just six weeks later Brady decided he wasn’t quite ready to pull the curtain down on his career, despite already cementing his place as the greatest NFL player of all time.
The quarterback sensationally changed his tune on retirement and returned to the Buccaneers, coming in as the oldest quarterback to start a game in NFL history when he lined up against the Dallas Cowboys yesterday.
Despite the retirement blip, NFL insider Ian Rapport believes the 45-year-old is intent on this season being his last.
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He revealed: “The 45-year-old is heading into what is expected to be his final season in the NFL, according to sources with knowledge of his thinking.
“He has never said it publicly, but multiple parties involved acknowledge that after last year's retirement then unretirement, the end is coming.
“That is the understanding, that this is the final year.”
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The NFL star was asked about the situation during a news conference this week.
Brady responded: “I think we're all getting one day older at a time.
"We're all not sure whether we're going to be here next year or not, that's the reality for every player, every coach, every parent. You just never know. We should all take advantage of the opportunity that we have."
Always good to throw in a bit of a philosophical phrase to avoid answering the question.
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Brady’s contract with the Buccaneers finishes up at the end of this season.
He’ll be hoping he can finish his career off with yet another bang by making the Super Bowl and adding an eighth championship ring.
Hall of Famer Kurt Warner believed it was more likely Brady retired than makes another Super Bowl, however, wouldn’t rule out the possibility.
Warner said on NFL Game Day: “After everything that we’ve seen and the fact that he retired in the off-season and then came back, I believe this is his last year. I believe this is it for him.
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“But that doesn’t mean that he’s not likely that he’s going to get back to the Super Bowl and win another Super Bowl.
“If I’ve got to pick one or the other, this will be his last year so that to me has to be a little bit more likely.”
Jayden Collins