Tom Brady Tampa Bay Buccaneers Final 2021-2022 Season Touchdown Pass Ball

Tom Brady's Final Touchdown Pass Ball from the 2021-22 NFL season encapsulates the culmination of a remarkable journey for the iconic quarterback. Following his historic 2020 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he sought to prove his self-reliance outside the Patriots' system, Brady continued to defy expectations in 2021.

The touchdown pass of Tom Brady's came in the form of a remarkable 55 yard strike to Mike Evans, was one of the standout throws from his 2021 season. As soon as Evans secured the touchdown pass, he promptly tossed the football into the crowd at Raymond James Stadium, marking (what was thought to be) the end of a momentous chapter in Brady's legendary journey. Brady's touchdown pass cut the Los Angeles Rams' lead to seven with 3:20 remaining, but the Buccaneers lost 30-27 to the eventual Super Bowl champions, ending the season for the Buccaneers. Brady would later come out of retirement for one last season in 2022, before announcing his official retirement.

This football, initially auctioned as his ‘last’ touchdown, created a major NFL offseason saga due to Brady’s retirement and swift un-retirement. The football sold for $518,628 after his first retirement announcement in March of 2022. Less than 24 hours later, Brady came out of retirement and the half-million-dollar deal was nullified. A couple months later, in November of the same year, the same football was sold again for $129,657. Though it is no longer Brady’s final regular-season touchdown pass, it serves as a pivotal moment in his NFL career and a manifestation of his enduring passion for the game.

The football has been photomatched by MeiGray and is accompanied by a photomatch letter.

Going Deeper | Tom Brady and the Buccaneers

Brady’s switch from the New England Patriots to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was more than just a change of teams; it was a testament to his unyielding determination, his hunger for success, and his unwavering belief in his own abilities.

Brady's 2020 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went beyond just another quest for the championship; it was a journey to prove his own self-reliance. He set out to establish that he could excel outside the system that had defined his career and shake his association with Patriots’ Head Coach Bill Belichick. His performances showcased his mastery of the game, his ability to read defenses, and his signature clutch playmaking.

Brady would end the year in the same place he had been nine times before, leading his team out of the tunnel before the Super Bowl, this time against the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes. Unlike his first trip, when he led the Patriots to an underdog victory in the waning moments of the game, Brady put on a masterclass and the game never felt close, the culmination of all the experience and success that at once seemed so improbable.

Brady was responsible for three touchdowns—two to his former teammate in New England, Rob Gronkowski—and no interceptions, on his way to a record-extending fifth Super Bowl MVP.

In his speech during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Super Bowl ring ceremony, addressing his teammates, family, and friends, Brady finally took a moment to look back:

“A lot of you guys were young when I got drafted. I was a sixth-round pick; I was the 199th pick. I never forgot that. I still haven’t forgot that to this day. I have a lot of perspective of where I was at one point in my life and that not a lot of teams thought that I could do anything for them. Not a lot of teams ever believed in what I thought I could accomplish.”

Then as he had throughout his career, he deflected praise to his teammates. “[Everyone always asks] ‘Why the Bucs? Why did you choose the Bucs?’ It was a no brainer,” Brady said, before thanking his teammates individually by name. “I came here to be with you guys. I chose here because of you guys.”

Brady would stay with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for another two years, and although they did not achieve the same success in the postseason, his passing ability would continue to reach new heights, even in the twilight of his career. 

Over the course of his career, Brady made an NFL record 10 Super Bowl appearances. His seven Super Bowl victories (six with the Patriots; one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) are more than every single NFL franchise.