NFL great Tom Brady says he is retired for good: ‘I’m certain I’m not playing again’

Just in case you needed to hear it again, Tom Brady says he is retired for good.

Brady called it a career — for a second time — on Feb. 1, 2023 and doesn’t expect to touch the playing field ever again.

“I’m certain I’m not playing again,” Brady told Sports Illustrated Thursday as rumors have swirled about a possible comeback. “So, I’ve tried to make that clear and I hate to continue to profess that because I’ve already told people that lots of times, but I’m looking forward to my broadcasting job at Fox next year, I’m looking forward to the opportunity ahead with the Raiders and we’re in the process of that along with the other different things that I’m a part of professionally and in my personal life — just spending as much time with my kids as I can.”

The 45-year-old agreed to a 10-year, $375 million broadcasting deal with Fox in May 2022 that was supposed to kick into place immediately after his playing career. However, Brady will not begin broadcasting until next Fall.

“For me, I want to be great at what I do,” Brady said on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” show in February. “Talking with the people at FOX Sports and the leadership there, allowing me to start my FOX opportunity in the fall of 2024 is something that’s great for me. …

“[I want to] take some time to really learn, be great at what I do, become great at thinking about the opportunity and make sure I don’t rush into anything.”

Brady also bought a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders — where his former understudy, Jimmy Garoppolo, will be taking snaps this season — as his involvement in football will continue despite hanging the helmet up.

His first attempt at retirement came on Feb. 1, 2022 before quickly unretiring on March 13 saying that his place is “still on the field and not in the stands.”

His second announcement of riding off into the sunset was less theatrical as he simply posted a video to social media.

“I know the process was a pretty big deal last time so when I woke up this morning I figured I would just press record and let you guys know first,” Brady said in the 2023 video. “I won’t be long-winded, you only get one super emotional video retirement essay and I used mine up last year.”

The seven-time Super Bowl champion — six with the New England Patriots and a final one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — went out losing an NFC Wild Card matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. In his final season, Brady tossed for 4,694 yards and 25 touchdowns with the Bucs.

Brady finished as the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards (89,214) and touchdowns (649) with three MVPs and five Super Bowl MVPs. Brady will be honored by the New England Patriots in their home opener for the 2023 season.