Watch: Analyst thinks Tom Brady could retire before 2022 season ends

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Analyst thinks Buccaneers' Tom Brady could retire before 2022 season ends

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 10/24/22

This past Thursday, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady shrugged off a notion floated out there by multiple media personalities that he could re-enter the world of retirement before the 2022 NFL season ends.

Following the 21-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers that dropped Tampa Bay to 3-4 on Sunday, NFL Network host Kyle Brandt became the latest noteworthy individual to suggest Brady could call time on his career during the middle of the ongoing campaign.

As shared by the Joe Bucs Fan website, Brandt pointed out that Brady and company fell to a Panthers team that fired head coach Matt Rhule on Oct. 10, traded wide receiver Robbie Anderson and star running back Christian McCaffrey before the Week 7 clash with Tampa Bay, and started third-choice quarterback P.J. Walker against the Bucs.

"I can’t believe this is the ball of garbage they are," Brandt said of a Bucs team he feels may be destined to finish at 6-11:

Is Tom Brady gonna retire? A few weeks ago, @KyleBrandt said Tom might call it quits mid-season... and he's sticking to it.

: https://t.co/CwVRdMGrVT pic.twitter.com/wujSFVTalr
— Kyle Brandt’s Basement (@KBBasement) October 24, 2022

Shortly after the Buccaneers lost at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 16, radio hosts Andrew Fillipponi and Danny Parkins publicly said that they thought it was not "a slam dunk" Brady finishes the 2022 season as an active player. Later last week, former quarterback Chris Simms and Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio made similar comments amid reports saying the seven-time Super Bowl champion and wife Gisele Bündchen have hired divorce attorneys because their marriage allegedly is "beyond saving."

"I love the sport, and I love the teammates," Brady responded when asked Thursday about Simms' take. "And I want to go do a great job for this team like I always have. No retirement in my future."

Brady retired for roughly six weeks during the winter months but ultimately returned for at least one more season. ESPN stats show the 45-year-old began Monday ninth among eligible quarterbacks with a 92.8 passer rating, 14th with a 53.2 total QBR, and sixth with 1,942 passing yards this season. He's thrown for eight touchdowns with one interception over seven games.

Brady and the Bucs next host the 4-3 Baltimore Ravens this Thursday night.

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