After a 30-27 defeat in the NFC divisional round to the Los Angeles Rams, Tom Brady has retired from the NFL after 22 years of play.

In the 2021 NFL season, Brady led the league in passing yards with 5,316 and amassed 43 passing touchdowns. In short, at the age of 44, he continued to play at a high level.

However, in the divisional round defeat, Brady missed some key offensive players that helped him have an incredible 2021 campaign.

The Buccaneers were without two wide receivers in their clash against the Rams: Antonio Brown, who was released after he walked out during their game against the Jets, and Chris Godwin who suffered an ACL injury when they played against the Saints. In addition, they missed their all-pro right tackle, Tristan Wirfs, who is out due to an ankle injury he suffered against the Eagles.

Even though these key players were missing, Brady and the Buccaneers still managed to level the game 27-27. Brady’s late touchdown pass to Mike Evans with three minutes 20 seconds left on the clock and a Leonard Fournette rushing touchdown with 46 seconds left erased a 27- 3 deficit.

Although injuries limited Brady’s offense, having scored just three points in the first half, the team showed grit and determination to get back into the game in the second half.

The Buccaneers’ late season injuries and releases might entice Brady to return to play another season with a healthy roster and see if they can win another championship.

Although  ESPN first reported that  Brady is retiring, his retirement might not last. Passion and love for the game might entice him to play for another year.

Let’s not forget that Brady said he wanted to play until he was 45 and will be encouraged by Buccaneers’s personnel. “I told him, if he wants to play until he’s 50, and he feels like he can still play, he can play until he’s 50,” Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said on the Rich Eisen Show in May 2021.

A disappointing defeat and the emotions that came shortly after might have caused Brady to make a rash decision — a decision he can still change.

Regardless of his ultimate decision, Brady’s dominance for 22 years for both the New England Patriots and Buccaneers cannot be forgotten, even by the fans who dislike him.