Even time couldn’t defeat the remarkable Tom Brady

The seven-time Super Bowl champion announced his retirement on Tuesday, but there were few signs he was slowing down at the age of 44

Tom Brady was always going to leave on his own terms.

When I suck, I'll retire," Brady said in 2014. But of all his achievements, the timing of Brady's announcement that he will step away from the game after 22 seasons may be the most remarkable of all. He is not walking away because injuries sapped his greatness or because his play has declined as he approaches 45. Brady is coming off two seasons in Tampa in which he was still one of the best players in the NFL and clinched his seventh Super Bowl in his 10th appearance. He still moves as well as he ever. Remarkably, there is more zip on his fastball now than there was six years ago.

Wins: 243

Super Bowl titles: 7

Passing touchdowns: 624

Passing yards: 84,520

Starts: 316

Playoff wins: 35

Playoff passing yards: 13,049

Playoff touchdowns: 86

Game-winning drives in the playoffs: 14

Most passing yards in a playoff game: 505

Touchdown passes in the Super Bowl: 21

Passing yards in Super Bowls: 3,039

Super Bowl MVPs: 5

The volume of fans who enjoyed the early story, grew tired of his success, were happy when he failed, accused him of cheating, and grew to grudgingly respect his persistence and excellence: Infinite