New England Patriots legend Vince Wilfork expressed his surprise at Tom Brady’s retirement and noted that Brady had not shown any decline in arm strength when he decided to step away from football in February 2023.
Speaking ahead of Brady’s Patriots Hall of Fame induction, Wilfork praised Brady’s ability and speculated that Brady could have continued playing for several more years if he had chosen to do so.
Wilfork pointed out that unlike other quarterbacks such as Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, whose arm strength visibly declined towards the end of their careers, Brady maintained his throwing ability at a high level throughout. Wilfork respected Brady’s decision to retire on his own terms, noting that he left the game when he felt ready and had achieved everything he wanted in his career.
Despite speculation and opportunities, including potential interest from the San Francisco 49ers last fall, Brady did not seriously consider returning to football after retirement.
Wilfork humorously suggested that Brady’s induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame should put to rest any lingering thoughts of him making a comeback, quipping that the only snaps Brady might take now would be playing with his children in the backyard.
Looking ahead, Brady is set to take on a new role as Fox’s lead NFL analyst while also pursuing ownership in the Las Vegas Raiders.
Although there will always be curiosity about how much longer Brady could have played, his decision to retire at this point in his career leaves that question unanswered.
