Tom Brady speaks out on retirement speculation after playoff heartbreak
Tampa, Florida - Tom Brady declined to discuss his playing future amid retirement talk after almost pulling off a miracle comeback as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers crashed out of the NFL playoffs.
The Bucs trailed 27-3 but fought back to level the game in the final quarter before eventually losing 30-27 to the Los Angeles Rams in Sunday's Divisional playoff.
Brady threw a spectacular pass for Mike Evans for a 55-yard touchdown to make it 27-20 in the fourth quarter.
Tampa Bay's exit comes amid growing speculation about the 44-year-old quarterback's future, with one year remaining on his Bucs contract.
"I haven't put a lot of thought into it. Just take it day-by-day and see where we're at," Brady told reporters after the game.
Brady added: "The truth of it is I'm only thinking about this game. I'm not thinking about anything past five minutes from now."
Tampa Bay head coach Bruce Arians offered no insight into the situation either, stating "that's up to Tom" when pressed on the issue.
Brady completed 30 of 54 attempts for 329 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's defeat. The seven-time Super Bowl champion had a 67.5% completion rate for a career-high 5,316 yards with 43 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this season.
The Bucs had entered the playoffs as the NFC's second seed but fell short after going all the way last season as fifth seeds.
"Always tough losing at the end of the year," Brady said.
"Obviously we showed a lot of fight but at the end of the day when you lose a game, you lose a game."
Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire