There is little doubt on mental or competitive grounds that Brady could probably still throw it well. GOAT retired in 2023 at age 45 after posting his sixth straight season with 4,000-plus yards passing (4,694) — only Dak Prescott is on pace to surpass that mark this season (4,756). He led the NFL in completions and attempts between years before officially retiring. The real question is, after so much time off, would he be able to take a repeat hit?
Walking away after the 2022 season was, of course, Brady’s second retirement. The full-back famously ‘retired’ before the last campaign but then quit 40 days later.
“Who quits and then quits and then quits again? Who does that? It’s ridiculous for Philip to do that,” Brady said.
Brady believes Rivers, who is four years his junior, can succeed because of his mental acumen.
“This game is about, for the quarterback, from the neck up,” Brady said. “We had a saying at Michigan: ‘Mentality is to physicality as four-on-one at the quarterback position. It doesn’t really go away. Do you still have the physical ability to still — take the hits, throw, drop, buy some time in the pocket?’
“If Philip has been practicing these things, we will all see it on full display in Seattle on Sunday afternoon.”
Rivers’ Colts kick off against the Seahawks at 4:25 PM ET.