Tom Brady Retires After 23 NFL Seasons: Sports Illustrated’s Complete Coverage

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Legendary quarterback Tom Brady has announced his retirement after 23 seasons in the NFL, a year to the day after last year’s short-lived decision to leave the game.
“I’m retiring. For good,” he said in a video posted to his social media accounts. “I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first,”
The 45-year-old leaves the NFL as arguably the greatest player of all time, winning seven Super Bowls between the Patriots and Buccaneers in a career that spanned from 2000 to ’22. His most recent title came in Super Bowl LV, at the end of his first year with the Buccaneers.
Here is a look at Sports Illustrated’s coverage of Brady’s career and retirement announcement:
Feb. 1, 2023: Tom Brady announces retirement (again)
Brady made the announcement via his social media accounts, saying he was retiring from the NFL, “for good.”
Truly grateful on this day. Thank you 🙏🏻❤️ pic.twitter.com/j2s2sezvSS
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) February 1, 2023
News and reaction from Wednesday, as the 45-year-old ended days’ worth of speculation around his playing status since the Buccaneers were eliminated from the NFL playoffs:
- Watch Tom Brady’s official retirement announcement
- How we’ll know it’s for good this time
- Albert Breer’s takeaways on Brady
- Brady made yet another shrewd choice by retiring
- Sports world reacts to Brady’s announcement
- Brady is still the fantasy G.O.A.T.
- One year ago today, Brady retired the first time
- Buccaneers’ official statement
SI Vault: Some of our top stories from Brady’s career:
- 2005 Sportsperson of the Year Award: Why Tom Brady Is the Ultimate Teammate
- 2009: ’I Am Pushing Myself ... There Is Nothing I Can’t Do’
- 2012: Tom Brady, As You Forgot Him
- 2017: The Brotherhood of Brady, From Michigan to Now
- 2017: Avocado Ice Cream? Therapeutic PJs? We Take on the TB12 Method.
- 2017: The Zen Winning a Fifth Super Bowl Has Brought Tom Brady
- 2021 Sportsperson of the Year Award: Brady’s Victory Over Time Itself
SI Cover Stories: Brady’s Super Bowl victories:
- Feb. 3, 2002/SB XXXVI: Patriots Stun Rams Behind Their Transformed Coach and Oh-So-Cool Quarterback
- Feb. 1, 2004/SB XXXVIII: Brady, Patriots Fight to the Finish to Beat Carolina
- Feb. 6, 2005/SB XXXIX: Brady, Bill Belichick, Pats Win Third Super Bowl
- Feb. 1, 2015/SB XLIX: Despite Controversies, Patriots, Brady End Title Drought
- Feb. 5, 2017/SB LI: Brady Seals Status As Greatest Quarterback of All Time
- Feb. 3, 2019/SB LIII: With History Hanging in the Air, Brady, New England Win Again
- Feb. 7, 2021/SB LV: Brady Does It Again, This Time With the Bucs
Tom Brady: The Sports Illustrated Covers
