When debating the player who should be deemed the GOAT of football, Tom Brady is probably the name that immediately comes to mind. Brady has made some remarkable achievements throughout his 22-year career, especially the seven Super Bowl rings he has garnered, six with New England, and one with Tampa Bay.

Brady is the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards (84,520), touchdown passes (624), completions (7,263), regular-season wins (243), playoff wins (35), and Super Bowl MVPs (five), as well as playing in and winning more regular-season games in his career than any other quarterback.

Some quarterbacks have been able to stay healthy and play adequately beyond the age of 40. At the age of 44, Brady is a prime example, in addition to former quarterback Drew Brees, who officially retired in 2021 at the age of 42, and former quarterback Peyton Manning, who officially retired in 2016 at the age of 40.

When Brady played what was supposed to be his last game, a playoff loss against the Los Angeles Rams, most felt they had watched Brady’s final on-field performance. The football Brady threw for the final touchdown of his career sold for more than half a million dollars. Brady talked about being able to spend more time with his family, which he had often cited as the ultimate reason he wanted to walk away from football.

But.

About two months after this announcement, Brady made another one: he isn’t retiring after all. He will be returning to Tampa Bay for another season. Brady talked about having “unfinished business,” which, considering his amazing statistics, is puzzling. Does he want another Super Bowl to win, so he can go out on top? Is he hoping those words will be enough to get him traded to San Francisco, the city he is from and might want to return to? Brady has commented before on the disappointment he felt when he was not drafted by San Francisco right out of college.

However, San Francisco passed on Brady back in 2020 when he wanted to leave the Patriots. Analysts have also commented that Brady may not be a good fit for the 49ers offensive style of play.

It may be difficult for fans of football to be patient with games like the one Brady is now playing. While Brady’s place in football history is certainly secure, it would be difficult to watch Brady fumble in his attempt to reclaim former glory, much in the way that Brett Farve tried to do until a concussion took him out of football for good. Hopefully, Brady can avoid injury, as he has mostly done, and end his career on his own terms, whenever he is finally ready to do so.

Brady’s retirement, then retraction of his retirement, certainly had the media and football fans guessing. Whatever Brady does, and wherever Brady goes, one thing is for sure: Brady’s career stats will be hard to beat.