Michael Irvin: Tom Brady ended retirement because he was 'no longer the boss' at home

Whether he's calling out members of the Dallas Cowboys after a disappointing loss or challenging Dallas players to show more heart and "will" in future games, Hall of Famer Michael Irvin is rarely shy about speaking his mind on any topic, including Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady ending a brief retirement that began this past winter and didn't last through the spring. 

In a recent interview with Fox News Digital (h/t Ryan Gaydos), Irvin explained why he wasn't surprised to learn Brady would be coming back for at least one more season. 

"I tell people all the time, you’re at the top of the mountain when you’re Tom Brady in the NFL," Irvin remarked. "You’re at the top of the mountain. You’ve won seven (Super Bowls). You got more rings … you’re the boss where you go then you decide I think I’m gonna retire. I think I’m gonna retire. And you go home and you have this idea in your head. It’s just a figmentation (sic), your imagination of what retirement is. 

"And when you get home and you learn that you’re no longer the boss, but you’re being bossed around at home, telling you what to do, you’re like 'Wait a minute. I just want to sit here and relax.' 'No, I need you to do this. Can you get this done?' And then you say, 'Woah. Wait a minute. Maybe this is not what I want to do right now.'"

As noted by ESPN stats, Brady finished this past regular season leading the league with 5,316 passing yards, 43 touchdowns through the air, 485 completions, and 719 attempts. He was second behind only 2021 Most Valuable Player Aaron Rodgers (69.1) with a 68.1 total QBR. 

"Tom Brady still has great skill but he’s diminished in his will to keep going through the process and he said maybe it’s time to take a break and go home," Irvin added about what may have caused the 44-year-old to announce on Feb. 1 he was riding off into the sunset of retirement. "And he gets home, and he’s noticed he’s even more diminished in his will because he’s been in total control, the wife is running the house, and now he says I’m back on the football field. I love it that he’s back on the football field because I think he brings so much for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the NFL and it gives us great things to talk about."

Brady has said throughout the second half of his career that he'd like to play past his 45th birthday that he'll celebrate in August, but longtime teammate and friend Rob Gronkowski recently claimed the G.O.A.T. will "have it until he’s at least 50 years old."