Tom Brady is reportedly retiring from the NFL after 22 seasons and a record seven Super Bowl victories.
The 44-year-old spent 20 seasons with the New England Patriots before relocating to Florida and leading the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl last season.
Brady is widely regarded as the best quarterback in league history and exits the game with five Super Bowl MVP awards, three league MVP awards and as the league record holder in almost every major passing statistic.
The California native said he would consult with his family and mull the decision perhaps "a month or longer" following Tampa Bay Buccaneers' divisional playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday.
A post on the Twitter account of TB12 Sports, the fitness and training company set up by Brady and his personal trainer Alex Guerrero, listed his achievements and finished: "22 Incredible Seasons. Thank you for it all, @TomBrady."
That tweet has since been taken down, however, while there has been no comment from Brady himself or the Buccaneers.
A statement from Brady's agent Don Yee, posted on the NFL website, read: "I understand the advance speculation about Tom's future. Without getting into the accuracy or inaccuracy of what’s being reported, Tom will be the only person to express his plans with complete accuracy.
"He knows the realities of the football business and planning calendar as well as anybody, so that should be soon."
Brady had hinted at retirement in recent days when he noted that the feelings of his supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen and their family would play a part in his decision.
"I have kids now, and I care about them a lot," Brady said on Monday on his Let's Go podcast.
"My wife is my biggest supporter. It pains her to see me get hit out there. And she deserves what she needs from me as a husband and my kids deserve what they need from me as a dad."
Brady led the Bucs to a Super Bowl championship in his first season in Tampa in 2020 and signed a restructured contract that included next season, leading some to believe he might make a 2022 return at age 45.
He spent the first 20 seasons of his career with the New England Patriots, teaming with coach Bill Belichick to win six Super Bowls championships.
The certain future Hall of Fame inductee led the NFL in passing yards with a career-high 5,316 yards and tossed 43 touchdown passes, showing no signs of a physical decline.
