Following the official retirement of legendary quarterback Tom Brady, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft suggested a shocking idea…
On the first of February, NFL quarterback Tom Brady took to Instagram and announced his official retirement – for real, this time. “I’m retiring. For good. I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first,” he said in a video issued on Instagram.
“It won’t be long-winded, you only get one super-emotional retirement essay, and I used mine up last year, so. I…really thank you guys…so much,” he added. “To every single one of you, for supporting me, my family, my friends, teammates, my competitors. I could go on forever. There are too many. Thank you, guys, for allowing me to live my absolute dream.”
Despite closing out his final season in the NFL, Brady is largely recognized as one of the most memorable faces of the New England Patriots. Drafted by New England, the quarterback spent 20 seasons with the franchise. And, according to Kraft, he would love for Brady to sign a one-day contract so the 45-year-old could retire as a Patriot.
“Not only do I want it, our fans are clamoring for it, and to us, he always has been and always will be a Patriot,” Kraft explained. “We’ll do everything we can in our power to bring him back, sign off as a Patriot, and find ways to honor him for many years to come.”
Continuing, Kraft shared that Brady was such a staple in the franchise and singlehandedly revitalized how the world views the Patriots. “He did so much to bring life and good cheer to our community, and he’s a beloved figure, and he’s earned the respect and love that people feel for him like no other athlete in our town, and we’ve had some great ones,” he said.
Kraft also recognized the quarterback as being one of the best in the entire history of the NFL. Plain and simple, very few athletes have run a successful career for 22 seasons with Seven Super Bowl championship titles under their belt.
Robert Kraft recognizes Tom Brady as ‘the greatest of all time’
“I don’t believe in the 100-year-old history of the NFL, there’s been a quarterback of Tom’s ilk. I would have trouble ever believing there would be another one,” the Patriots owner commented during an interview with ESPN.
RELATED: Tom Brady Gets Choked Up In Instagram Video While Announcing the Inevitable
“He has accomplished everything there is to achieve in this game, and so much more. No player in NFL history has done it as well for as long as Tom Brady,” Kraft said in a follow-up statement. “He is the fiercest competitor I have ever known and the ultimate champion. He led the Patriots to two decades of unprecedented dominance. He is truly the greatest of all time.”
“Words cannot adequately express the gratitude my family, the New England Patriots and our fans have for everything he has done. It’s been a blessing for me to watch him grow, first as a young professional on the field, but most importantly, as a person off it,” he continued. “He is one of the most loving, caring and passionate players I have ever known and I will always consider him a part of our family.”
In similar fashion to craft, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick called Brady the “ultimate winner” and “leaves as the most successful player in league history.”
What to Read Next...
At The Buzzer, or ATB is the place for those who love sports, life, family, community, and so much more. We are far from the run-of-the-mill 24/7 sports news websites. We not only bring you what’s happening in the world of sports in terms of trades and breaking news, but we also bring you the news that goes on behind the scenes, like big life moments, and so much more. So take a minute and read one of our articles, we promise you won't regret it.