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What they’re saying about Tom Brady’s retirement

The former Bucs and Patriots quarterback left an indelible impression during his 22nd seasons in the NFL.
 
Tom Brady (12) waves to the fans in the stand as he jogs off the field following a 2021 victory over the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium.
Tom Brady (12) waves to the fans in the stand as he jogs off the field following a 2021 victory over the Atlanta Falcons at Raymond James Stadium. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]
Published Feb. 1, 2022|Updated Feb. 1, 2022

During his 22-season NFL career, Tom Brady played in 10 Super Bowls, won seven titles, earned three league Most Valuable Player awards, received five Super Bowl MVP trophies and laid claim to just about every major career passing mark.

The former Bucs and Patriots quarterback and future Hall of Famer also made an indelible impression on teammates, coaches, fans, opponents and numerous others, both inside and outside the world of sports.

Here is what some of them had to say Tuesday following Brady’s retirement announcement. Most were messages of thanks filled with superlatives for arguably the greatest player in NFL history and well-wishes for the future. A few others had some fun with the announcement.

“Tom Brady will be remembered as one of the greatest to ever play in the NFL. An incredible competitor and leader, his stellar career is remarkable for its longevity but also for the sustained excellence he displayed year after year. Tom made everyone around him better and always seemed to rise to the occasion in the biggest moments. His record five Super Bowl MVP awards and seven Super Bowl championships set a standard that players will chase for years. He inspired fans in New England, Tampa and around the world with one of the greatest careers in NFL history. It has been a privilege to watch him compete and have him in the NFL. We thank him for his many contributions to our game and wish Tom and his family all the best in the future.”

— NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, in a statement

“All I can say is, he’s better at 44 than just about any of these other guys at 28 or 30 in their primes, and that’s part of the reason why he’s the best to ever put on the spikes.”

— Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

“It’s probably a sign I’m getting a little old. You think about generational talents and people that have retired and go way back … the Joe Montanas and the Wayne Gretzkys and the Michael Jordans and Magic Johnsons. It’s just the elite of the elite. … Ironically I’m watching Tom’s Man in the Arena right now with my son, just a couple episodes, and just being that short into it, you can already tell why he’s a winner and why he rose to where he did in his career. Sad day for everyone, because you take for granted somebody that’s played that long, and you just hope you don’t take for granted what he did. He of everybody I mentioned, you have to put him maybe at the top for everything he’s genuinely done not only on the field, but off the field with different teams. Incredible, and we were fortunate enough to be able to experience him for a couple years and (for him) to lead the Bucs to the Super Bowl, just kind of icing on the cake to show how talented he is.”

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— Lightning coach Jon Cooper

“Winning the Super Bowl title here, it speaks volumes. I mean, the impact that he made on the community as far as bringing fans back to the stadium and inspiring people to cheer on the Bucs and follow along their whole season to success, and there was a lot of excitement this year and obviously they fell a little bit short but it wasn’t for lack of effort. It’s incredibly hard to win a championship, and he knows that as well as anybody, so it was fun to be able to play a professional sport in the same city as him and see the excitement that he brings to an arena.”

— Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh

“I’ve been a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan for a long time. I was a fan when they were in the old ‘Sombrero’ and creamsicle colors. The thing that impresses me the most about Tom Brady is his ability to elevate the level of perfection and the expectancy of all his teammates and coaching staff around him. It’s one thing for him to come in and to elevate the brand for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Obviously more people are going to watch because Tom Brady came to Tampa, but to see the respect that he got from his teammates and to see the level of dedication and really just give-a-damn from every other single teammate on the roster speaks volumes about him not only as a quarterback but as a person. That’s really hard to do. I’ve been involved in a team sport here in NASCAR. It is very hard to have one person come into an organization and really change the mind-set and change the attitude of the entire organization, and he was able to do that in Tampa.”

— NASCAR driver and Hillsborough High alumnus Aric Almirola

What a ride @tombrady ! So many memories! When I met you over 15 years ago, I didn’t know the first thing about football. But cheering for you and seeing you do what you love most made me learn about this wonderful game to the point that I seriously believed I knew more than the referees! We always had a special champions playlist for every drive on our way to the game. As a family, we always prayed for you, celebrated and supported you in every game, cheered every win and suffered with every loss.

“I’m so proud of you, and of everything you have had to overcome physically and emotionally over the years. I am in awe of your dedication, and of everything you have achieved. You love what you do, and you leave behind a legacy that is a beautiful example for future generations.”

— Gisele Bündchen, Tom Brady’s wife

“While the collective hearts of Champa Bay are broken by the news that the GOAT is retiring, we certainly owe (Tom Brady) a sincere debt of gratitude. He brought a standard of excellence that resulted in a number of firsts — first Super Bowl win on the home field, first Super Bowl boat parade, first Lombardi boat toss & first Mayoral pardon in addition to renaming Tampa Bay into “Tompa Bay”!! We raise a toast to you (avocado tequila) and thank you for the memories.”

— Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, on Twitter

“The best QB of all time retired, DANG … he threw his last TD on me.”

— Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey, on Twitter

″Old-timers (like myself) still carry a torch for the celebrated likes of Bill Russell, Ted Williams, and Bobby Orr, but the truth is that Tom Brady clinched the trophy three years ago when he won his sixth Super Bowl for the Patriots at the age of 41. Brady, who announced his retirement Tuesday morning, goes down as the greatest athlete in the long, storied history of Boston sports. Russell forever will be our most prodigious winner: 11 championships in 13 seasons. Teddy Ballgame was the greatest hitter who ever lived. Orr is the best to ever lace up skates. But Tom Brady is Boston’s Zeus … A-No. 1 … Top of the List … King of the Hill … Capo di Tutti Capi of all who played sports for New England teams.”

Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaugnessy

“Congrats to the Greatest.

— Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, on Twitter

“Congratulations @TomBrady, greatest to ever do it. Awesome watching you the last 22 years. Good luck on the next season and journey!”

— Tim Tebow, on Twitter

“Congratulations to my friend Tom on an unbelievable football career. To do it as long as he did, at the highest of levels, is absolutely incredible. It was an honor & a privilege to compete against him on the field, and I truly appreciate his friendship off the field. I have always admired & respected his competitiveness, his dedication, his discipline, and his commitment to being the best. I wish him the best in his next chapter. Congratulations again, pal!

— Peyton Manning, on Twitter

”When I think about Tom Brady, he’s a true winner who handled himself with class throughout his entire career. Even with those seven Super Bowl rings, he never lost that competitive fire to be the best. Congratulations, @TomBrady, on a tremendous career!’’

— John Elway, on Twitter

“Often times it’s hard to face the reality that the greats will one day hang it up. Hell of a career. Will be interesting to see where his professional life goes from here’'

— Retired race car driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., on Twitter

“Thank you @TomBrady for 22 years that gave us 7 Super Bowls, several broken records, and making every teammate you played with better. That’s why you are the GOAT (& I normally don’t say anything good about Wolverines lol!).”

— Magic Johnson, on Twitter

“Words cannot describe the feelings I have for Tom Brady, nor adequately express the gratitude my family, the New England Patriots and our fans have for Tom for all he did during his career. A generation of football fans have grown up knowing only an NFL in which Tom Brady dominated. He retires with nearly every NFL career passing record, yet the only one that ever mattered to him was the team’s win-loss record. In his 20 years as a starter his teams qualified for the playoffs 19 times. He led his teams to 10 Super Bowls, winning an NFL-record seven championships. In a team sport like football, it is rare to see an individual have such a dominant impact on a team’s success. You didn’t have to be a Patriots fan to respect and appreciate his competitiveness, determination and will to win that fueled his success. As a fan of football, it was a privilege to watch. As a Patriots fan, it was a dream come true. I have the greatest respect for Tom personally and always will. His humility, coupled with his drive and ambition, truly made him special. I will always feel a close bond to him and will always consider him an extension of my immediate family.”

— Patriots owner Robert Kraft, on Twitter

“This better be real. … But seriously, congrats on a first-ballot, Hall of Fame career, (Tom Brady). We may not miss seeing you on the field, but the entire football world will.”

— New York Jets, on Twitter

“Going to miss you, @TomBrady.”

— Indianapolis Colts, on Twitter

”It was quite the ride. Thank you and congratulations, @TomBrady

— New England Patriots, on Twitter

“BREAKING: Tom Brady, who lost 2 Super Bowls to the Giants during his legendary 22-year NFL career, retires.”

— NBC New York on Twitter

“Tom Brady, known for dropping a pass in Super Bowl LII and failing to shake Nick Foles’ hand, has announced his retirement from the NFL.”

— Fox 29 News Philadelphia on Twitter