Tom Brady refuses to rush retirement decision this year after returning to the NFL last March

Don’t expect Tom Brady to decide his professional future immediately after the current season.

As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback told Jim Gray in his SiriusXM weekly podcast, Brady felt he rushed his decision last season by deciding to retire in March before making a complete switch and returning to the NFL within 40 days. Brady’s turnaround in his retirement is rumored to have led to his divorce from his wife, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, last year.

“I think the most important thing is the day after the season, and I made this mistake, it’s not deciding the future,” Brady said.

Brady, 45, and the 8-9 Bucs enter the playoffs as a long shot to reach the Super Bowl outside of the NFC. Tampa Bay hosts the Dallas Cowboys in the wild card round on Monday.

As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback told Jim Gray on his weekly SiriusXM podcast, Brady felt he rushed his decision last season by deciding to retire in March before making a complete change and returning to the NFL within of the 40 days. Brady’s change of heart is rumored to have led to his divorce from the wife of supermodel Gisele Bundchen last year.

Gray asked Brady if he sees the upcoming postseason as his “last chance” to win another Super Bowl, which would be his eighth since his rookie season in 2000.

But instead of delving into his own decision-making process, Brady talked about Damar Hamlin, the Buffalo Bills safety who continues to recover from an on-field cardiac arrest suffered last week.

‘What has this past week taught us by what the brave and courageous Damar Hamlin went through?’ Brady asked. They don’t promise us anything. None of us are. Not a play. So take it for what it is.

“And I’m not thinking about the next one and this and that,” Brady said, bringing the subject back to the retirement issue. ‘No, just, we get a chance to go practice, let’s be great at it. And that’s how I feel. That is what we all must take from, that is the lesson we learn. That’s what happened that brought us together. And I don’t want us to forget these things. It means a lot because we put a lot into it. And it could go away pretty quickly.

Bills safety Damar Hamlin has been released from the hospital in Cincinnati and is in Buffalo

Brady also touched on a similar decision facing reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, who may be contemplating retirement at 39 after his Green Bay Packers failed to reach the postseason.

“I think Aaron is spectacular,” Brady told the guests, Hall of Fame quarterbacks Steve Young and Roger Staubach. “He obviously can keep playing and he has all the ability in the world to do it. And there are a lot of other things that come into play and he’ll make that decision when it’s right for him. And everyone should give him the time and space to do it.’

Staubach, a two-time Super Bowl winner with the Dallas Cowboys, agreed with Brady.

“Aaron had a season this year, he’s been up and down,” the 80-year-old said. “I mean, he’s a great football player and I think he’s got a few games left and I wouldn’t retire after this year.” He’s shown his stuff at times, but he’s had a rough year. But I think he could come back next year and have a much better year.

Brady also addressed a similar decision facing reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, who may be contemplating retirement at 39 after his Green Bay Packers failed to reach the postseason.