The most successful football player in history will soon be a bureaucratic sports retiree: according to a report, Tom Brady is said to have submitted his resignation to the league. This means that the superstar is also entitled to a pension.
According to a media report, after the announced end of his career, football superstar Tom Brady also took an official step towards sporting retirement. As ESPN reported, citing sources, the 45-year-old submitted the relevant papers to the National Football League and the players' union. Among other things, this initiates the process for pension payments. "This letter puts an end to all questions about Brady returning and now makes him eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2028," ESPN pundit Adam Schefter tweeted. Even as a high earner, Brady is entitled to a pension from the league: Three seasons in the NFL earn you a pension.
Most recently, the most successful football professional in NFL history had announced that after the end of his active career he would only start his new job as a TV expert on US television after a year's break. Brady had retired a week and a half ago, emphasizing it was "forever". When he first retired, the seven-time Super Bowl champion reversed that step after 40 days and had one more season to go.
"I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning I figured I'd just hit record and let you guys know first so it doesn't get too long," Brady said in an emotional farewell statement. "You just get a super emotional resignation speech and I've used up my last year so thank you for supporting me. My family, my friends, my teammates, my competitors. I could go on like this forever. There are too many. Me Thank you for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn't change a thing. I love you all."
Due to his now apparently formal departure, Brady is not listed as a "free agent" who could still sign a new contract for the coming season at short notice. Brady played 23 seasons in the world's largest sports league, winning the Super Bowl seven times with the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. For career after career, the superstar has signed a substantial deal as FOX Sports' senior NFL analyst, beginning after his playing career ends.
However, Brady had previously stated publicly that he won't start until 2024 and will use the next year to spend time with his family and prepare for the job. The deal with the US broadcaster is said to bring Brady $375 million over ten years. It would be the largest contract in US sports television history.
