Brady’s Back, and Maybe He’ll Stay: Tom Brady has decided to return for another season in Tampa Bay.

Well, that didn’t last long.

Legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady plans to come out of his very short-lived retirement to play at least one more season in Tampa Bay.

On March 13, Brady posted to Twitter, announcing his unretirement. “These past two months I’ve realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands. That time will come. But it’s not now,” his tweet said.

The day before, Brady attended a Premier League football game, where Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester United defeated the Tottenham Hotspur 3–2. Ronaldo scored a hat trick.

Who knows why Brady decided to come back. Perhaps watching a great footballer in action—who, at 37 years old, is up in age for soccer players—gave him that final push of motivation to continue to play.

Maybe he didn’t need the motivation. Brady constantly seems physically and mentally ready to take on any challenge, especially in football. His strict diet and fitness program keep him healthy at a level that is almost absurd for men—let alone athletes—his age.

Maybe Brady was bored. Maybe he genuinely didn’t know what to do with himself. Maybe owning two clothing brands, running a fitness company and touching up his golf game were not enough to keep him busy. Maybe Brady has a visceral need for football.

After playing and practicing football non-stop and training in the football mindset, it must be brutal to step away. Brady is attached to not only his team but to the sport of football as a whole. It has become a necessity, like food or water—an inseparable aspect of his life that he can’t just quit cold turkey.

And Brady isn’t a quitter by any means. Despite winning 7 Super Bowl rings, he simply cannot stop competing. He always seems to want more. His drive and his determination, perhaps, are the biggest factors of his success.

As Brady returns for his 23rd season in the NFL, he might just win another Super Bowl. Maybe this season won’t even be his last. Maybe he won’t stop until he wins again.

Sources: Andrew Beaton and Josh Gay, The Wall Street Journal

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