According to ESPN and NFL Network, the stainless Brady, who was crowned champion for the seventh time in his career last year with Tampa Bay, after winning six titles in 20 years with the New England Patriots, must formalize this decision in a way imminent.

In the meantime, the player has still not communicated.

Asked by ESPN, his agent Don Yee said that the star himself "will be the only person to speak about his projects with complete accuracy".

"He knows the realities of the American football world and the timing that that entails better than anyone, so it will be soon."

The excitement over this announcement that the superstar was going to hang up his cleats and put his helmet away, after 22 seasons in the tough professional league (NFL), was up to the extraordinary champion that he is.

And the tributes immediately began to rain.

"All those times, all those memories. Thank you for everything Tom," the NFL tweeted, adding the initials "GOAT" next to his name, acronym "The Greatest of All Time." and a list of his accomplishments.

"Day by day"

"Thank you for everything big brother, it was an honor", wrote on this same social network Mike Evans, his teammate at the Bucs.

"Greatest ever," tweeted Bucs wide receiver Chris Godwin.

"Thanks for the memories, baby!" wrote Julian Edelman, his former New England teammate and longtime Brady friend.

Tom Brady, then with the New England Patriots, after the victory against the Atlanta Falcons during the Super Bowl, February 5, 2017 in Houston (Texas) Timothy A. CLARY AFP / Archives

But in this flood of messages, others have emerged expressing skepticism about the reality of the superstar's retirement, while the Buccaneers franchise has not communicated on this subject.

According to the BallySports website, "Brady contacted the club's general manager Jason Licht and told him that he had not yet made a final decision".

A reporter for KRON TV in San Francisco says Brady's father is in denial that his son is going to retire.

Last week, Brady said he wanted to "take it day by day and see where we are."

In his podcast, he then argued that his choice did not come down to "always what I want" but "what we want as a family".

Brady is married to ex-model Gisele Bündchen and they have two children.

Records in shambles

If he were to end his career, the NFL would suffer the blow of a second resounding retirement in a few days, after that of another legendary quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, twice winner of the Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But Brady's would be the best of them all.

In 2020, the quarterback had left the Patriots, after twenty years of an already sensational career, to join the Buccaneers, then one of the weakest teams in the NFL, which had not qualified for the play-offs since 2007. Against all odds, he had led them to the top, beating the Kansas City Chiefs, then putting on his seventh ring in ten finals.

Tom Brady winner of the Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, February 5, 2017 in Houston Timothy A. CLARY AFP / Archives

In search of an eighth title - a second with the Buccaneers - he saw his dream crumble last Sunday in the 30-27 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, despite an incredible comeback as his team trailed 27-3 in the third quarter.

This was perhaps the last NFL last stand for Brady, who was named Super Bowl MVP five times, three times in the regular season and has among many other records, that of the number of successful touchdowns (624), passing yards (84,520) and regular season wins (243).

© 2022 AFP