Tom Brady's pro football career may have ended on Tuesday, but his days monopolizing the NFL's record books aren't anywhere near finished.
The 44-year-old retiree hold marks for Super Bowl wins (seven) and appearances (10), not to mention at least 10 other major distinctions. And Brady may be leaving near the top of his game.
Even this past year, his 22nd in the league and second with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the GOAT led all quarterbacks in passing yards (5,316), touchdown passes (43) and completions (485).
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after beating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium
Given his recent success, it's easy to imagine Brady adding to his career records with another season at the helm of the Buccaneers.
It's equally tantalizing to imagine what Brady's career marks would be if he hadn't spent a year as a backup.
The California native took a circuitous route to NFL stardom with the New England Patriots and, ultimately, the Bucs. Famously taken in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft — after his beloved San Francisco 49ers picked forgettable Hofstra quarterback Giovanni Carmazzi in the third — Brady spent a year as a backup to New England's four-time Pro Bowler, Drew Bledsoe.
But beginning in September of 2001, when Bledsoe was injured on a tackle by New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis, Brady took firm control of the starter's job, which he did not relinquish for 20 years.
The University of Michigan product guided New England to an 11-4 record over the remainder of the season, winning the infamous 'tuck rule' game against the Oakland Raiders in the playoffs, and upsetting the heavily favored St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl.
Brady went on to lead the Patriots to consecutive Super Bowl titles following the 2003-04 seasons. No team has since repeated as champions.
But New England wouldn't win another one for a decade, twice losing to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl, including a 17-14 defeat on February 3, 2008, that prevented the Patriots from completing a perfect season.
Brady, though, was far from finished.
He earned his fourth ring after the 2014 season thanks to cornerback Malcolm Butler's late
