ESPN

Feb 2, 2022, 02:15 PM ET

They've always said you should never count out Touchdown Tom, so it's hard to believe the time is finally here.

After 22 seasons and a historic seven Super Bowl rings with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tom Brady officially announced his retirement Tuesday morning.

The 44-year-old quarterback ends a legendary career that spanned three different decades on the path from Foxborough to Tampa to Canton. His list of accomplishments is long, and it includes collecting the most championship wins by a single player in NFL history. And don't forget his career records of most touchdown passes (624) and most passing yards (84,250).

Upon hearing the news, athletes across the globe took to social media to congratulate the GOAT on his storied career.

From Brady's teammates

pic.twitter.com/3nTjnQ3OCZ
— Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) February 2, 2022

You did your job better than anyone ever has. Well done, my friend. pic.twitter.com/VW6PzTkTSB
— Tedy Bruschi (@TedyBruschi) February 1, 2022

Congratulations on a great career @TomBrady ! Enjoy retirement goat
— Donovan Smith (@DSmith_76) January 29, 2022

Thanks for the memories, babe. @TomBrady pic.twitter.com/lCqCVn13tI
— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) January 29, 2022

If Tom thought playing was fun, retirement is that much better! Congrats brother @TomBrady! https://t.co/FLE0YDvSPv
— danny woodhead (@danny__woodhead) January 29, 2022

It was quite the ride.

Thank you and congratulations, @TomBrady. pic.twitter.com/0gPwUROEkz
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) February 1, 2022

Forever a part of Buccaneers history.

Thank you for everything, @TomBrady. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/XkMON0SY8j
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) February 1, 2022

Thank You Patriots Nation ❤️

I'm beyond grateful. Love you all. https://t.co/kXm2ET27Dk
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) February 1, 2022

From around the sports world

Congrats on your retirement Tom. pic.twitter.com/uXvRMO1BhE
— Eli Manning (@EliManning) February 1, 2022

Much respect Tom. Unbelievable career. Best of luck with your next chapter. pic.twitter.com/uKDv5Eax9S
— Nick Foles (@NickFoles) February 2, 2022

"It was an honor and a privilege to compete against him on the field, and I truly appreciate his friendship off the field."

Peyton Manning on @TomBrady's retirement: pic.twitter.com/yuGQwCCn6B
— Omaha Productions (@OmahaProd) February 1, 2022

Congrats to the Greatest. @TomBrady #12
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) February 1, 2022

The best QB of all time retired, DANG... he threw his last TD on me 😂
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) February 1, 2022

But seriously, congrats on a first-ballot, Hall of Fame career, @TomBrady.

We may not miss seeing you on the field, but the entire football world will. pic.twitter.com/sgvPfpUa7B
— New York Jets (@nyjets) February 1, 2022

Going to miss you, @TomBrady. pic.twitter.com/u0at0Ek1Ox
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) February 1, 2022

EL GOAT #TOMBRADY

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️
⬜️⬜️🐐⬜️⬜️🐐🐐🐐⬜️
⬜️🐐🐐⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️🐐⬜️
⬜️⬜️🐐⬜️⬜️🐐🐐🐐⬜️
⬜️⬜️🐐⬜️⬜️🐐⬜️⬜️⬜️
⬜️🐐🐐🐐⬜️🐐🐐🐐⬜️
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️#NFLMX
— NFL México (@nflmx) February 1, 2022

🐐 ,Hell of a ride!! pic.twitter.com/dUfiiEpSVa
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) January 29, 2022

🐐 https://t.co/iHcu71HBXR
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) January 29, 2022

😢 thank you for the memories, TB12. Just glad I got to watch over the years! https://t.co/hhT8GGXssA
— Chase Elliott (@chaseelliott) January 29, 2022

🐐 https://t.co/Gw7Lc26Pmj
— James Harden (@JHarden13) January 29, 2022

🥺🐐 https://t.co/nk5hjRWzyh
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) January 29, 2022

🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐 https://t.co/k5LnydOZer
— Brooks Koepka (@BKoepka) January 29, 2022

Tom is the GOAT. It was such an honor to compete against him in Match IV. He has been an inspiration for so many across all sports and I wish Tom and his family nothing but the best. Congratulations @TomBrady on such an amazing career. Enjoy this next chapter! pic.twitter.com/KzU3Zsh5sx
— Bryson DeChambeau (@b_dechambeau) February 1, 2022

🐐 it was a honor https://t.co/se4IamYa2R
— Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) January 29, 2022

Job well done, thanks 🐐 https://t.co/85l2JO9xqC
— Cris Carter (@criscarter80) January 29, 2022

Wild to hear the 🐐 has retired. Congrats @TomBrady on the greatest career any of us has ever seen!
— Taylor Lewan (@TaylorLewan77) January 29, 2022

Tom Brady dominated football for this long. 😂 pic.twitter.com/kpeQzQuGdp
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) January 29, 2022

Tom Brady has been in the NFL for so long that his hands in the video game literally used to be oven mitts pic.twitter.com/YkFSZbAPa5
— ᴀʀᴅᴀ Öᴄᴀʟ (@Arda) January 29, 2022