Buccaneers: Tom Brady silences retirement rumors

Tom Brady isn’t going anywhere.

Tom Brady has accomplished the impossible. After leaving one of the best sports dynasties of all time to come to one of the worst franchises in NFL history, Brady had his work cut out for him from day one.

Brady fought an uphill battle against COVID-19, learning a new playbook, and the most difficult path through the playoffs in the modern era, yet he now has the best second-chapter story amongst quarterbacks based on a Super Bowl win with a new team in a new conference in his first season.

Peyton Manning, who was one of the most coveted free agents of all time and is the best comparison on this front, was at least still in his prime when he went to Denver. Brady found his new team in his 40’s. Brady also only needed one season to earn a ring with his new team, while Manning took four.

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After winning Super Bowl 50, Manning retired from the NFL. He didn’t win Super Bowl MVP that year, but Manning accomplished exactly what he set out to do when he went to Denver. If Manning is the example, Brady has already reached that point with the Buccaneers, but with even more of an exclamation point.

Brady was a force of nature in his first Super Bowl with his new team, won Super Bowl MVP, and played the type of game that most people in his position would retire after. Brady is at the peak, and nothing that happens next season will add to the GOAT argument; therefore, some people believed Brady could call it quits if he won last night. After watching Drew Brees’ fall from grace, it didn’t seem like the worst idea.

Brady clearly has a different plan. While we as fans focus on legacy, Brady isn’t playing for his legacy. Perhaps that is a reason why he has been so good. Tom Brady plays the game because he loves it, not because he is chasing anyone else or looking over his shoulder, and he confirmed that he will continue to play the game he loves next season.

The number of rings doesn’t matter to Brady, nor does his opponent. All Brady wants is to win football games, and he has already made it clear that he has no plan to hang his cleats up yet. If his legacy is set and physically he looks as good as ever, who would ever stop Brady from playing at this rate?

Brady is the GOAT not just because of his rings or ability, but because of his mentality. The official best Buccaneer quarterback ever has changed the trajectory of the franchise with the win last night, and that mentality is staying put in Tampa for next season.

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