Tom Brady is preparing to retire from the NFL with a formal announcement expected shortly, sources tell Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.

Brady will likely reveal his future plans in the coming days and doesn't want to upstage the Championship Games or the Super Bowl, but he also wants to allow the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to readjust their plans for 2022.

"He is very respectful of the game, and has great respect for the Tampa organization and all they have done for him," said one source close to the quarterback. "He understands the ramifications that this decision would have on the team moving forward, and he would never want to do anything to upstage the playoffs. Whatever he decides, I'd expect he announces it soon."

Just before the 2021 season began, Brady said, “Hopefully, I’ll be here a long time. For many years.”