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Tom Brady is the absolute GOAT, with six Super Bowl rings in nine appearances in the Big Game. But at 42 years old, and already redefining what a pro athlete his age should be capable of doing in a sport like football, there has been a lot of speculation about what Brady’s future might hold. More specifically, some in the media are reporting that the quarterback could retire after this season, or, more shocking, even leave the New England Patriots for another team.
Although these types of rumors have been popping up over the past few seasons — and, yet, the Patriots continue to march on and dominate opponents — Tom Brady’s relationship with head coach Bill Belichick and the Pats front office is always going to bring headlines, so people will talk. But does that mean there’s any truth to any of this? According to Brady, not a chance, because he’s not sure why the issue has become news in the past few weeks.
Speaking with Westwood One’s Jim Gray during his weekly conversation, Tom Brady not only squashed the reports about leaving the Patriots, but he also reiterated what he’s said for a few years now; that he wants to play till he’s 45 years old.
Per Pro Football Talk:
“None of it is brought on by the things I’ve said,” Brady said. “Again, I said last week, nothing has changed with my status of my team and my standing. I’ve really been focused on my job. A lot of the hype, a lot of the media speculation is just that. It’s probably that time of year where you don’t need to focus so much on the wins and losses. You start focusing on a lot of other things. The media has a right to do that. I certain don’t. I’m focused on what I need to do this year. We’re off to a good start. I want to capitalize here in the second half of the year. That’s where I am personally.
“Again, I don’t know why it’s being brought up,” Brady said. “I had a good quote that came to mind. Someone told me the past and future are in the mind. I’m in the now. I think that’s a great way to live life. I’m not thinking about many things beyond this week. There are some family things I’m thinking about with the holidays coming up, but outside of that I’m thinking about football and how I can be the best for the New England Patriots.
“I don’t really pay attention to it, and I’m the only one who knows how I feel,” Brady said. “I’ve said on countless times now that I’m in a great place personally, professionally. I love the organization I’m playing for. I look forward to the second half of the season.”
As one might imagine, hearing all the rumors about what he may or may not do seems to be bothering Tom Brady, even if he claims the contrary. After all, the dude is human, so it’s only natural to be a little annoyed that reports are making it sound like he and Belichick are at odds with one another, and that it’s a power struggle between the two. And with the recent report that the head coach might be interested in coaching till he’s 70 — which is three years from now, which, ironically, is when Brady wants to play till — the quarterback talked about how he hopes he can reach that point himself.
“I certainly hope so. I have expressed that a lot of times,” Brady said. “Again, I think it’s important for athletes to have short-term goals and long-term goals. I’ve said that number for a long time. I work pretty hard at it every day. I think that’s part of me being a professional and giving my best to the team is making sure my body’s in great condition, that I’m able to take the field. I take pride in that. I’m not a robot out there. It’s a lot of time and energy, and I enjoy putting my time and energy in those places, taking care of myself, hopefully to afford myself the ability to play as long as I want to play and I also really love the sport and I enjoy playing. Not many things have changed on that front.”
The Patriots are the best franchise in all of sports, always retooling rather than rebuilding. Considering they’ve got Tom Brady and Bill Belichick together, regardless of what the relationship between the two might actually be, the team will always have chance to win more Super Bowls — and that’s something both guy wants more than credit or power, if history is any indication.