This past week, both Ben Rothlisberger and Tom Brady have announced retirement. Maybe.

Rothlisberger has decided to retire following an 18 year career as the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback. “Big Ben” has two Super Bowl wins and eight AFC North titles under his belt. 

Rothlisberger posted to his Twitter account a video confirming the end of his football career where he states,

“I retire from football a truly grateful man.” Rothlisberger suffered an elbow injury in the 2019 season that led to a premature end to his season when he underwent surgery to fix three detached ligaments, a possible factor in his decision to retire. 

A certainly less definitive possible retiree, Tom Brady has been rumored to be retiring following the 2021 season, but the rumors seem to be false. At this time, there is much confusion about Brady and his football future, the NFL Instagram posted dozens of tribute photos of Brady to commemorate the end of his career, but his father, Tom Brady Sr. says otherwise in a statement to the press.

“This is conjecture … Tommy has not made a decision … Anybody that says he has is absolutely wrong.” 

Brady is a seven time Super Bowl champion, and was MVP for five of those. He is widely considered to be the greatest quarterback of all time and is considered responsible for the New England Patriots success over the last two decades.

He was a free agent for the first time in his career in 2020, and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leading them to their second Super Bowl win of all time in 2021, 18 years after the first in 2003.

Whenever Brady does decide to retire, he will leave the NFL as one of the most successful players of all time.

For now, we say “Goodbye Big Ben” and a possible “See you later, Brady” pending any decisions.