3 NFL QB's who retired one season too late: Is Tom Brady next in line?
After an ugly 21-3 loss to the Carolina Panthers, Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a lot to think about. Specifically for him, it means thinking about what the future holds for him. Before the game, Brady ruled out any form of retirement in the near future. But a shellacking like this would have surely raised some second thoughts in him.
Last season, Brady was the leader in most passing yards and passing touchdowns in the league. He was at his imperious best and seemed to be going out at the top. Retiring then would have cemented Tom Brady's legend.
Now, with the Buccaneers slipping to a 3-4 record and the offense struggling, it naturally casts doubt on whether returning was the right decision. If indeed Brady is having second thoughts or someone else is about him, then it will not be the first time an elite quarterback has overstayed their welcome.
Over the years, many over the hill quarterbacks have stayed just that extra year when they really should have retired before. If Brady has a terrible 2022 season, he will be in danger of tarnishing his legacy. Here is a list of three such quarterbacks who ought to have hung up their cleats just a little sooner:
#1 - Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers, 2021
For the most recent example, Tom Brady doesn't have to look too far in the past to find a quarterback who wished he didn't play his final season. Just last campaign, Ben Roethlisberger left the Pittsburgh Steelers after winning two Super Bowls with them and never having a losing season. But those that saw him play last year would say he should have retired a season sooner.
Ben defied the TB12 Method in favor of the “Throw Some Ice On It” method his whole career, and ended up an all-time-great with 6 Pro-Bowls and 2 Super Bowls. There’s more than one way to bake a cake! twitter.com/_BigBen7/statu…
An old and regular opponent of Brady, Roethlisberger's last season was tough to watch. Records show that he had 22 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for 3,740 yards. But what the figures cannot show is how stilted the offense had become. They made it to the playoffs with a barely passable 9-7-1 record in the last game of the regular season.
Much of the load was carried by the defense and the excellent T.J. Watt, who set the record for the most sacks in a season with 22.5. In his last playoff game, Roethlisberger could not do much as they lost 42-21 to the Kansas City Chiefs.
#2 - Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings, 2010
If Brett Favre had chosen to retire in 2009, his legend would have cemented even more. He took the Minnesota Vikings all the way to the NFC Championship game and outplayed the Green Bay Packers, who had let him go in favor of Aaron Rodgers. Had he taken the decision to stand down then, he would always have been remembered as the quarterback who fought against adversities all his career and won.
As it happened, though, he came in for the 2010 season. He threw for just 11 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. Their head coach his job after a 3-7 start and his 297 consecutive matches starting ended in Week 14 when he was benched. He did not even suit up for his final match against the Detroit Lions. In the meantime, Rodgers and the Packers defeated them twice during the season and would go on to lift the Lombardi Trophy.
𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟎
Corey Wootton sacks Brett Favre on what would be the last snap of his career as the Bears clinch the 2010 NFC North! https://t.co/gPGijSfIWd
#3 - Y.A. Tittle, New York Giants, 1964
We go all the way back to the days before the Super Bowl, to honor one of the greatest warriors the game has ever seen. Y.A. Tittle played quarterback for both the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants. Before that, he played in the AAFC with the original Baltimore Colts from 1948 to 1950. Drafted in 1951 by the San Francisco 49ers, he created an immediate impression.
While with them, he made it to four Pro Bowls, was the 1955 passing touchdown leader and was named NFL Player of the Year in 1957 by the United Press. He was also responsible for developing the alley-oop pass.
Despite his many successes with the San Francisco 49ers, he was let go by them in 1960 and traded to the New York Giants. He experienced a career rebirth and led them to three NFL Championship games. He was the passing touchdown leader in 1962 and 1963 and made it to the Pro Bowl both years. In 1963, he was named the league MVP. Had he retired at that point, he would not have had to face the ignominy of his last season in 1964.
In 1964, they went for 1-8-2 as he threw for 22 interceptions and just 10 touchdowns. He was benched later in the season and by his own admission knew his career was up after a brutal hit on a pick-six by Steelers defensive end John Baker. Him sitting dazed and bleeding became one of the most iconic photographs of all time.
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Y.A. Tittle after getting hit by the Steelers John Baker in old Pitt Stadium. It's in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. https://t.co/TieHQoPXo9
He would retire by the end of that season aged 38. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame for both the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Giants. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
With the annals of NFL history rich with disappointing endings, Tom Brady is in danger of adding his name to the list.