Tom Brady Retires After 22 Seasons and 7 Super Bowl Wins: 'There Are No Shortcuts to Success on the Field or in Life'

Widely considered the greatest quarterback in National Football League (NFL) history, Tom Brady has piled up so many career records that he's said to have rewritten much of the NFL record book. From most touchdown passes (624) to most passing yards (84,250) in his 22 seasons…not to mention the most championships won by a single player…Brady has had quite the ride. 

Yet while these stats (and so many more!) are wildly impressive, what wowed us this week was the clarity in Brady's retirement announcement. 

'This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore,” Brady said in his statement on Instagram. I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention – I am so proud of what we have achieved. My teammates, coaches, fellow competitors, and fans deserve 100% of me, but right now, it's best I leave the field of play to the next generation of dedicated and committed athletes.”

Thank you, Tom Brady, for so many years of excitement watching you play…and for setting an example for all of us when it comes to knowing when it's time to call it quits and move on.