Tom Brady’s agent says QB plans to play in 2018 and beyond

Tom Brady still wants to play football next season and well into his mid-40s, assuming the New England Patriots quarterback is not lying to his own agent.

On Monday, Brady’s agent Don Yee seemingly put an end to all the speculation that Brady could be contemplating retirement.

“Tom’s intentions have not changed,” Yee told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “He’s consistently said he’ll play beyond this contract and into his mid 40s, or until he feels he isn’t playing at a championship level. I understand the constant speculation, but this is one point he’s been firm about.”

Brady’s current contract is set to expire after the 2019 season. Yee also confirmed that Brady has been training just as much this offseason as he has in past years.

“He customizes his preparation to each season in order to maximize his performance,” the agent said. “His training methods are always evolving and getting better. The year he missed the first four games — that month of training on his own was particularly efficient.”

There has been talk that Brady may want a new contract or could want Bill Belichick and the Patriots to give his personal trainer Alex Guerrero more access to the team. Other theories have also been floated around about Brady still being upset over a certain coaching decision Belichick made in the Super Bowl.

Whatever the case, it would have been shocking if Brady suddenly decided he was done with football. His TB12 brand only becomes stronger with each season he plays at a high level, and his training methods will be even more trusted if he continues his MVP-caliber play in 2018 and beyond. The tension between Brady and Belichick seems very real, but that does not mean the four-time Super Bowl MVP is calling it a career.