Playing until age 50 might be a bridge too far for Brady. Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Brady is not one to hesitate when faced with a big challenge, but even he admits that one thing may be a bridge too far, even for him.

Brady admitted recently that playing until he’s 50 would be a lot to ask. While he didn’t rule it out, he did add that getting to age 45 was his goal, which he is poised to accomplish in 2022, as he told Jori Epstein of USA Today:

“50? That’s a long time. Even for me, that’s a long time. I’ve always said 45 was the age that I wanted to reach, and that was my goal. This year I’ll be 44, so next year I’ll be 45. I got a two-year contract.

“I’m going to be able to obviously play this year and God forbid anything happens but play next year and then see what happens after that. If I still want to keep playing, I might be able to do that. And if that’s enough, then that would be enough.”

Brady is well aware of how long he’s been playing. He’s long targeted age 45, and barring something unexpected, he’s going to get there. It also sounds like that’s about as long as he wants to go. It’s not like Brady to hesitate on something like this, so he’s clearly given some thought to the reality that he might not be playing much beyond 2022.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Pacers' Pascal Siakam leads team to Game 6 win vs. Knicks
Watch: Matt Duchene's 2OT winner sends Stars to conference final
Scottie Scheffler shoots improbable 66 after warming up for PGA Championship in a jail cell
Report: Tua Tagovailoa away from Dolphins amid contract chatter
Nuggets star has worrying comment about latest injury
Paul Skenes makes incredible Wrigley Field history in second-career MLB start
Giants rookie CF to undergo season-ending labrum surgery
Yankees' Juan Soto reacts to Hal Steinbrenner contract talk
Late goal sends Panthers to Eastern Conference Finals
Ex-teammate of Shohei Ohtani placed bets with same illegal bookmaker as interpreter 
Former Rams first-round pick retires from NFL after 11 seasons
Insider provides major injury update on Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis
Watch: Bruins strike first in Game 6 with incredible backhand goal
Dodgers make series of moves involving notable players
Hurricanes not expected to re-sign defenseman, center
Maple Leafs tab former Stanley Cup winner as new head coach
NFL insider expands on competition between Steelers QBs Russell Wilson, Justin Fields
NFL sets outrageous prices for Eagles-Packers Brazil game
Broncos 'very unlikely' to bring back former NFL interceptions leader
Greg Olsen offers broadcasting advice to Tom Brady

Want more Buccaneers news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.