The 42-year-old has spent his entire NFL career with the Patriots, leading the franchise to six Super Bowl championships. "I don't know what my football future holds but it is time for me to open a new stage," Brady posted on his social media accounts, in a statement entitled "Forever a Patriot."Brady, who turns 43 this summer, will become an unrestricted free agent when free agency opens on Wednesday.READ: Brady is going to Hollywood as NFL star launches production company
Unprecedented success
During his 20 seasons with the Patriots, Brady was coached by Bill Belichick and together the pair brought unprecedented levels of success to the team, reaching nine Super Bowls. Belichick described him as "not just a player who bought into our program.""He was one of its original creators," the head coach told the Patriots' website. "Tom lived and perpetuated our culture. "On a daily basis, he was a tone setter and a bar raiser. He didn't just perform. He didn't just win. He won championships over and over again."Sometimes in life, it takes some time to pass before truly appreciating something or someone but that has not been the case with Tom. He is a special person and the greatest quarterback of all-time."The 199th pick in the sixth round of the 2000 draft, Brady rose from relative anonymity to become and NFL great. He has won three NFL Most Valuable Player awards and leaves the Patriots second in the NFL all-time list in passing touchdowns (541) and passing yards (74,571). Since getting his first chance in 2001, courtesy of an injury to then starter Drew Bledsoe, Brady has gone on to break numerous records, including most Super Bowl victories by a player (six), most Super Bowl MVPs (four) and most regular-season wins by a starting quarterback (219).In the 2019 season, Brady led the team to the first round of the playoffs with a 12-4 record, and suffered a home loss to the Tennessee Titans. Addressing teammates, coaching staff and Patriots executives, Brady said in Tuesday's statement: "You all have allowed me to maximize my potential and that is all a player can hope for."Everything we have accomplished brings me great joy and the lessons I have learned will carry on with me forever. "I couldn't be the man I am today without the relationships you have allowed me to build with you."READ: NFL players narrowly vote to approve new collective bargaining agreement
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