Tom Brady has shared a heartfelt message to Pats Nation on social media after “reflecting” on the team’s tough loss to Tennessee on Saturday.
The 42-year-old, who ended his season by throwing a pick six at Gillette Stadium, told fans the team tried their hardest before committing to coming back next season.
Tom Brady said: “I just wanted to say to all of our fans, THANK YOU!
“After a few days of reflection, I am so grateful and humbled by the unconditional support you have shown me the past two decades.
“Running out of that tunnel every week is a feeling that is hard to explain.
“I wish every season ended in a win, but that’s not the nature of sports (or life).
“Nobody plays to lose. But the reward for working hard is just that, the work!!
“I have been blessed to find a career I love, teammates who go to battle with me, and an organization that believes in me, and fans who have been behind us every step of the way.
Tom Brady went on to add, “Every one of us that works at Gillette Stadium strived to do their best, spent themselves at a worthy cause, and prepared to fail while daring greatly (h/t Teddy Roosevelt).
“And for that, we’ve been rewarded with something that the scoreboard won’t show – the satisfaction of knowing we gave everything to each other in pursuit of a common goal. That is what TEAM is all about.
“In both life and football, failure is inevitable.
“You dont always win. You can, however, learn from that failure, pick yourself up with great enthusiasm, and place yourself in the arena again.
“And that’s right where you will find me. Because I know I still have more to prove.”
After the disastrous end to the Patriots’ season, many are hailing the end of the Tom Brady and Bill Belichick era.
This is probably the biggest moment of uncertainty for the franchise in recent memory with several key players going into free agency and some potential personnel changes.
Among the free agents is the quarterback himself Tom Brady who will be a free agent for the first time in his career and Pats Nation is willing owner Robert Kraft and Belichick to work some magic and keep him in New England – but it is far from guaranteed.
It could be some time before we learn the fate of the veteran quarterback and his future landing spot.
READ MORE: What the Patriots must do this offseason to keep dynasty alive