Tom Brady's retirement admission explains unusual New England Patriots snub
Tom Brady's recent retirement admission explained why he has not returned to the New England Patriots on a one-day contract to retire as a member of the team.
Brady called time on a 23-year career in the NFL in February 2023, with the former quarterback winning seven Super Bowl rings in total. Six of those rings came with the Patriots, while one was won with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Even after announcing his retirement, there was still speculation that Brady could return to the field in the 2023 season. The 46-year-old is due to start a 10-year deal with Fox Sports as an NFL analyst starting from the 2024 season.
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Soon after Brady's retirement was confirmed, Patriots owner Robert Kraft expressed his desire to see Brady return to Foxborough. Kraft wanted Brady to sign a one-day contract to return to New England and retire with the Patriots.
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“Not only do I want it, our fans are clamoring for it,” Kraft told CNN in February last year when asked about the desire to bring Brady back to Gillette Stadium. “To us, he is always has been and always will be a Patriot. We will do everything in our power to bring him back, have him sign off as a Patriot, and find ways to honour him for many years to come.”
For nearly a whole year there has been speculation as to why Brady has not returned to New England to retire as a member of the Patriots. The former quarterback was at Gillette Stadium in the home opener on September 10 against the Philadelphia Eagles, where he was honored in a pre-game ceremony as a special guest by Kraft.
On Sunday night, in a New Year's Eve post on Instagram, Brady revealed that he initially planned to return to the NFL last May. His admission proves he was always considering a return to the league, and was essentially backed into a corner over Kraft's offer.
"Looking back on 2023 grateful for every moment," wrote Brady on Instagram. "Cherishing the highs, learning from the lows, and looking forward to what’s coming next. I’m blessed to have family and friends filled with so much love, joy, and compassion surrounding me.
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"As you get older, you realise that this is really the only thing that matters, and I’ll never take these people for granted. Hug your kids, call your parents, tell your friends that you love them, and let’s all help make 2024 a kinder and happier year for everyone in our lives.
"(PS: The only downside to 2023 was when I was about to unretire in May and my friends threw a surprise retirement party. Kind of forced my hand)."
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