They just can’t retire!

Just a couple of months ago, American football superstar, Tom Brady, announced his retirement from the NFL. At 44, he’s had one of the longest and definitely the most successful career in the sport’s history, winning a record seven Superbowl titles. His retirement didn’t really come as a shock, following an incredible career that has spanned more than twenty years; his farewell tour has been on the horizon for a while.

What was a shock was his announcement that he would be coming back for a 23rd year in the sport. You have to question why.

Is it a matter of money? Unlikely—he’s earned a reported $475 million over his career. Even if this wasn’t enough, why would he risk his health by continuing to play the sport? He could very easily embark on other career paths, such as punditry or coaching, without the same risks to his body. I think there could be two reasons, the first being pride. Brady is already considered the greatest NFL player of all time and his legacy is unrivalled, but to become that in the first place you need a ruthless nature, something he clearly has. The other explanation could be some form of addiction to the sport. Brady has spent most of his life playing American Football, and to give it up, even at 44, may be something he doesn’t feel ready to do just yet.

He’s not the only athlete to do this. Former Manchester United and England midfielder, Paul Scholes, also hung up his boots, only to quickly take them back off the hook less than a year later. After retiring, Paul trained with Manchester United’s youth team in order to stay fit, and just in case he changed his mind. His mind was ultimately changed for him. United went through an injury crisis in 2012, and manager Sir Alex Ferguson asked Paul to return to help the club out.