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Tom Brady remarked on his latest podcast appearance that he is “close to the end” of his NFL career as he continued to hint at his retirement.
Brady, now 45 years old, has had a tumultuous offseason, retiring in February only to later reverse that decision. In the midst of August’s training camp, Brady took an 11-day leave of absence to “deal with personal things,” according to his head coach Todd Bowles.
Last week, Brady said: “As you get older, life changes quite a bit. There’s different responsibilities that take form in your life. There’s different perspectives you gain.”
The seven-time Super Bowl champion, speaking on his regularly scheduled ‘Let’s Go!’ podcast with co-host Jim Gray on Tuesday, said that he is “feeling more than things in the past for some reason” as he competes in his 23rd NFL season.
“I’m just really feeling intensely my emotions,” the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback told Gray. “And I feel like I always have that, but I think when you get close to the end – and I don’t know exactly where I’m at with that, but there’s no decision to be made, it’s not like I have 10 years left, I definitely don’t have that.
“All these, I’m just never going to take for granted. The only time it really slapped me in the face to say: ‘Don’t take this for granted’ was when I got injured with my knee. And after that, I came back and said: ‘Winning’s great. I love winning and I hated losing, and I still do, but even if you lose and you walk off the field healthy, there’s something to be gained from it.’ The part is, if you get injured and you can’t be there with your team, that’s really where it gets mentally challenging and emotionally challenging.”
Brady and the Bucs opened the new season with a comfortable 19-3 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
Although Brady said that there is a “simplicity to life when you’re in the football season because there’s a rhythm to it,” he explained waking up on Monday morning the day after a win with bruises and cuts on his arm. “Holy s**t, there were a few hits,” he said.
Photos: The best photos from the 2022 NFL season
Joshua A. Bickel/AP
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow throws during the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1 on September 11 in Cincinnati. Burrow would go on to have five turnovers on the day — four interceptions and a lost fumble — in a 23-20 loss.
Photos: The best photos from the 2022 NFL season
Abbie Parr/AP
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) had nine receptions for 184 yards and two TDs in a big 23-7 division win against the Green Bay Packers on September 11 in Minneapolis. This pass, however, was incomplete.
first game back in Seattle since leaving for Denver after 10 years with the Seahawks. Seattle won 17-16.” class=”gallery-image__dam-img” height=”2000″/>Photos: The best photos from the 2022 NFL season
AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Photos: The best photos from the 2022 NFL season
Rusty Jones/AP
Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb makes a run in the red zone against the Carolina Panthers on September 11 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Chubb had 141 yards on 22 carries in a tight 26-24 win for the Browns.
Photos: The best photos from the 2022 NFL season
Brynn Anderson/AP
Soldiers hold the American flag during the national anthem before the first half of the game between the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints on September 11 in Atlanta.
Bills are serious contenders for the title in 2022.” class=”gallery-image__dam-img” height=”2000″/>Photos: The best photos from the 2022 NFL season
Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Photos: The best photos from the 2022 NFL season
Kirthmon F. Dozier/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Detroit Lions fans play catch with running back Jamaal Williams at Ford Field. The Lions fell just short in a late comeback against the Philadelphia Eagles — scoring 14 points in the 4th quarter — to lose 38-35.
tweeting, “Sheeesh…. Bills mafia ??????” ” class=”gallery-image__dam-img” height=”2000″/>Photos: The best photos from the 2022 NFL season
Ben Liebenberg via AP
Photos: The best photos from the 2022 NFL season
Erik S. Lesser/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas makes a reception against Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell in the second half of their game in Atlanta on September 11. Thomas had two touchdown catches on the day as the Saints outscored the Falcons by 14 in the fourth to win 27-26.
Photos: The best photos from the 2022 NFL season
Daniel Bartel/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields celebrates after the Bears’ 19-10 win against the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field. Fields threw for two touchdowns on a rain-soaked day in Chicago.
“And you go: ‘OK, how much longer do I want to make this commitment?’ And I obviously made the commitment for this year and everything’s going to be continuously evaluated all these different aspects at play.”
Brady outlined how he now has “no margins of error” as a 45-year-old quarterback compared to those 20 years his junior in terms of his physical preparation and recovery.
When asked by Gray about why he would consider retiring if he is still performing at a high level, Brady noted the impact of age on his priorities.
“When I was 25, there was a simplicity of 25-year-old life,” Brady said.
“And I think when you’re 45, and you have a lot of other commitments and obligations which are very important to you – namely children that are growing up and things that, I haven’t had a Christmas in 23 years and I haven’t had a Thanksgiving in 23 years, I haven’t celebrated birthdays with people that I care about that are born from August to late January. And I’m not able to be at funerals and I’m not able to be at weddings.
“I think there comes a point in your life where you say: ‘You know what? I’ve had my fill and it’s enough and time to go on, to move into other parts of life.’”
Gisele Bündchen, Brady’s wife, told Elle that she had “concerns” about her husband – already the oldest ever NFL quarterback – making a return from his February retirement.
“This is a very violent sport, and I have my children and I would like him to be more present,” Bündchen said. “I have definitely had those conversations with him over and over again. But ultimately, I feel that everybody has to make a decision that works for [them]. He needs to follow his joy, too.”
She added: “I’ve done my part, which is [to] be there for [Tom]. I moved to Boston, and I focused on creating a cocoon and a loving environment for my children to grow up in and to be there supporting him and his dreams. Seeing my children succeed and become the beautiful little humans that they are, seeing him succeed, and being fulfilled in his career – it makes me happy. At this point in my life, I feel like I’ve done a good job on that.”
The Buccaneers face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
