Tom Brady’s honest reaction to Aaron Rodgers potentially retiring from NFL

Brady shares perspective on knowing when to stop

Speaking on FOX Sports’ “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd, Tom Brady opened up about how he knew it was time to retire — and why Aaron Rodgers faces one of the toughest choices any quarterback can make.

Brady explained that his final season was emotionally exhausting and marked the point when he knew it was time to stop. He added that Rodgers’ situation is different, but equally complicated.

“My last season was tough. I had a personal, family issue that was a challenge, and it just took a lot out of me. I always had a goal of 45. I wanted to spend time with my kids. They’ve been at enough of their dad’s games.”

“Aaron’s got his own decisions he’s got to make. He doesn’t have kids. He’s trying to navigate what he wants to do post-career,” Brady said. “It’s hard to give up football. It’s something that we’re really good at. You love being out there with your teammates.”

“When I got older, I almost enjoyed practice more than playing because playing felt like a relief to win,” he said. “It’s never satisfying, even for me, sometimes winning and not winning like you’d expect.”

Aaron Rodgers faces key decision after 19th season

Aaron Rodgers has yet to decide whether he will return for a 20th NFL season. The 42-year-old quarterback has won four MVP awards and one Super Bowl, but his recent injuries and long recovery periods have fuelled retirement talk.

Brady’s comments serve as a reminder of how mentally draining the late stages of a career can be. Brady compared football to a marathon, explaining that success requires constant preparation and commitment.

“Everyone loves to run the first four miles and the last two miles of a marathon, but it’s those middle 20 that are hard,” he said. “If you don’t make the commitment year-round, it’s never going to turn out well.”

For Rodgers, that question of full commitment appears to be central. Whether he retires or returns for one final season, Brady’s perspective highlights that walking away from football is as much a mental decision as it is physical.