New England Patriot owner Robert Kraft wants Tom Brady to sign one-day contract and 'retire as a Patriot'
NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS: New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he'd do “everything” in his power to get Tom Brady to re-sign with the Patriots for one day so that the quarterback can officially retire as a member of the franchise he won six Super Bowl titles with. This comes a day after Brady announced his retirement from the sport for a second time on Wednesday, February 1.
Kraft expressed himself during an interview with CNN on Thursday, February 2. "Not only do I want it, but our fans are also clamoring for it and to us, he always has been and always will be a Patriot. We'll do everything we can in our power to bring him back, sign off as a Patriot, and find ways to honor him for many years to come," he said. "He did so much to bring life and good cheer to our community and he's a beloved figure and he's earned the respect and love that people feel for him like no other athlete in our town and we've had some great ones." Kraft then appeared to refer directly to his former New England player: "Tommy, I'm always here for you, you are part of our family."
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Patriots Owner Bob Kraft joins @PoppyHarlowCNN and @donlemon to talk @TomBrady retirement after 20 years with the New England Patriots and six Super Bowls together. pic.twitter.com/B5JCpK3dQv
— CNN This Morning (@CNNThisMorning) February 2, 2023
'Thank you for the time you gave us'
"I just love the guy so much and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for him and I think he can do a lot of good things for America and reach out to a lot of people. Thank you for the time you gave us and everyone here in the New England region loves you and respects you and wants happiness for you in your life," he concluded. The one-day contract can be referred to as a "ceremonial" tradition in sports where notable members of a specific team retire with the franchise that drafted them or they are most associated with. Players such as Jerry Rice, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Emmitt Smith signed the one-day contract to retire with their original teams.
Tom Brady 'retired for good'
Brady, widely considered the greatest quarterback in National Football League history, announced his retirement after 23 seasons with a video message that he posed to Twitter on Wednesday. The 45-year-old confirmed he was “retiring for good,” in the nearly one-minute-long clip. He had previously delivered the news in 2022, however, went on to play one more season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After experiencing the first losing season in his record-breaking career, the seven-time Super Bowl champion has officially retired for the second time.
Truly grateful on this day. Thank you 🙏🏻❤️ pic.twitter.com/j2s2sezvSS
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) February 1, 2023
Why did Tom Brady retire?
In a telephonic interview with the Boston Globe on Wednesday, Brady’s father Tom Brady Senior confirmed that his son informed him about his retirement a week before the official announcement.
“We’re not shocked by any means,” Brady’s dad told the Globe. “He has played football for 32 years out of his 45, living his dream for three-fourths of his life. It’s been a wonderful ride. He’s very secure in his decision. It’s about time. This has been a hard year,” said the father during the interview. “I’m really happy for Tommy from the standpoint that he’s going to be able to spend more time with his kids," he added. Talking about Tom Brady's life he further said, “He’s going out on his own terms, and he’s in good health. He’s taken a lot of hits over the years — a lot of sacks, a lot of knockdowns. I am thrilled that he won’t get knocked down again.”