Tom Brady reportedly 'done-done' playing football

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Feb 1, 2023 3:48 PM ET

One insider "as clued into Tom Brady as anyone" closed the door shut on history repeating itself this year.

After Brady announced on Wednesday morning he was retiring from playing "for good," ESPN's Jeff Darlington reported that the seven-time Super Bowl champion has taken his last snap in the NFL.

"During his most hyper-focused time of his life, which is in-season, he went through the stress of a divorce — a traumatizing divorce to him," Darlington explained during an appearance on the ESPN "First Take," as shared by Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post. "So, now he stepped back. He decided, 'You know what, I need to recharge. I need to rebuild my life and get myself re-energized,' and not for the football field, but just in general."

Darlington added about Brady: "I will be very clear on this. Everybody is telling me that he is done-done. This is not going to be a reconsideration. He is done. He feels at peace with it. He is ready to move on with his life away from football."

Brady famously first retired from playing on Feb. 1, 2022, but then announced on March 13 he was returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for another season. Late in the summer, reports surfaced that Brady and Gisele Bündchen were experiencing marital problems at least somewhat linked with his decision to continue playing. They announced their divorce after 13 years of marriage on Oct. 28.

Last week, Darlington said that Brady "felt at times his preseason anguish ended his chances at success before the regular season even started." On Wednesday morning, Darlington confirmed Brady was always going to either retire this winter or play only for the Buccaneers in 2023, in part because two of the quarterback's children live with Bündchen in Florida.

According to Glasspiegel, ESPN's Adam Schefter insisted during "First Take" that Brady's personal life being "different right now" compared to last year will keep the 45-year-old retired even if a team comes calling for his services come spring or summer.

Audacy's Ryan Chichester and others have pointed out some within the sports world won't believe Brady is truly retired until he's heard calling a game for Fox this September. That's understandable considering the past, but it sounds as if Brady has truly ridden off into the sunset ahead of Super Bowl LVII.

Even though Brady's done with hitting the gridiron, he isn't out of the game entirely with this move to a TV analyst position. You know who just got into the game of legal sports betting? Fanatics, and with the Fanatics Sportsbook promo code you'll get started with some bonuses.

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