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Tom Brady has announced he is officially retiring from football — again— this time “for good.”
In an emotional video on Instagram, the NFL star made the announcement, thanking everyone who has been there for him and helped him on his journey, while saying he figured social media was the best route given he’d already “used up” his once chance at a big retirement moment last year.
Brady, of course, quit the sport in early 2022 to focus on his family, before unretiring and announcing he would be returning for another season a few months later. The decision has widely been cited as a breaking point for his wife Gisele Bündchen, who said at the time that she gave up her career and life to support her husband and to look after their children as he chased his dreams.
“Good morning, guys, I’ll get to the point right away. I’m retiring, for good,” Brady said in the new clip posted this morning. “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. So it won’t be long-winded. I think you only get one super-emotional retirement essay, and I used mine up last year.”
Holding back tears, Brady continues, “So really, thank you, guys, so much to every single one of you for supporting me. My family, my friends, my teammates, my competitors, I could go on forever, there’s too many. Thank you, guys, for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn’t change a thing. Love you all.”
Also in the post, Brady included photos of his kids, parents, friends, and ex-wife, Bündchen. The pair, who share two children, divorced last October after nearly 16 years together. A month before the separation was publicly announced, the supermodel said in an interview of Brady’s decision to continue football, “Obviously, I have my concerns—this is a very violent sport, and I have my children and I would like him to be more present,” Bündchen told ELLE USA last September, adding, “I feel that everybody has to make a decision that works for [them],” she added. “He needs to follow his joy, too.”
Unfortunately for Brady, if the decision is to appease Bündchen, it appears to be too little, too late. The supermodel has been spotted on numerous occasions recently living her best life with a new man.
