Tom Brady is unretiring from football after 40 days, and there are a lot of feelings about it.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback first decided that he was retiring from football on February 1, 2022. The decision was met with a lot of congratulations as Brady discussed shifting the focus to his family and giving them the attention and energy they deserved.
Fast-forward to March 13, and Tom has announced that he's unretiring. The news is both unsurprising and thrilling to football fans, who know retirements don't always stick and love the energy and level of competition Tom brings to the game.
On March 13, Tom Brady announced that he will be returning to the NFL for another season after all.
"These past two months I've realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands," Tom wrote.
"That time will come. But it's not now. I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family. They make it all possible. I'm coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa. Unfinished business LFG."
The statement was met with public messages of support from Tom's wife, Gisele Bündchen.
"Here we go again! Let's go lovvvey! Let's go Bucs!" she commented.
Bridget Moynahan, mom to Tom's oldest son, Jack, also responded to his news with an Instagram post.
"Thank God, I had no idea what I was going to do with my Sundays," she said.
"Congratulations @tombrady, so proud of you!"
Despite the public shows of support, a lot of people noted that Tom's comments about his reason for retiring were very family-oriented.
"It's not always what I want. It's what we want as a family. And I'm gonna spend a lot of time with them and figure out in the future what's next," he said after his retirement announcement.
Tom specifically talked about how his career impacts Gisele.
"It pains her to see me get hit out there," he said of his wife.
"And she deserves what she needs from me as a husband, and my kids deserve what they need from me as a dad."
A lot of people are wondering what could have changed in two months that would change not only Brady's entire perspective but also sway his family's feelings of wanting him to be a more active participant. It's a big sacrifice to make for everyone, especially considering the kids are 14, 12, and 9 years old.
There are, of course, tons of jokes and memes out there about how Tom isn't cut out for family life and doesn't want to be at home with his family when he could be on the field. And while nothing is ever really that simple, you have to wonder what trade-offs each member of that family will make as he takes on his 23rd season in the NFL.
