Even for Tom Brady, old habits are hard to break.

After 22 seasons in the NFL, the seven-time Super Bowl champion announced his retirement earlier this month. But as Super Bowl LVI on Sunday approached, Brady seemed to be missing his previous position.

The first clue was Brady’s admission on wife Gisele Bündchen’s Instagram on Saturday that he wanted to return to the field. addressing Bündchen’s query in the caption, “Who’s working this weekend?” Brady commented, “I wish I was ️ ️,” and the well-known Instagram account Comments by Celebs caught his message.

Brady then posted a screen grab of his phone’s lock screen on Sunday, revealing a “time-sensitive” reminder for Super Bowl LVI.

Brady wrote, “Sh*t…” over the picture.

After being selected in the 2000 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, Brady played for the franchise for his first 20 seasons and won six Super Bowls. Brady spent his last two NFL seasons as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team he helped win his seventh Super Bowl in 2021.

Following the Bucs’ defeat in the playoff divisional round last month, many speculated that Brady may announce his retirement soon. He declined at the time, claiming he would be handling things “day by day,” but on February 1st, he subsequently announced his departure on Instagram with a touching message.

“This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore,” Brady, who is 44 years old, stated. “I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention.”

Brady added, “I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished.” “Athletes of the upcoming generation deserve my all, but for now, it’s best for me to step away from the field of play and give my all to my teammates, coaches, fellow competitors, and fans.”

In his post, he expressed gratitude to Bündchen and their three children as well as to his coaches and teammates.

He declared, “The future is exciting,” acknowledging that he had no idea “exactly what my days will look like” but that his ultimate goal is to “enrich other people’s lives.”