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SCMP Sport

Tom Brady’s decision to retire after the end of the 2021-22 NFL season shocked many, especially as he seemed to still be at the peak of his powers.
An MVP-calibre season may have ended in disappointment, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were still considered to be Super Bowl contenders.
No Brady is back and ready for his 23rd year in the league. But before the man who was drafted 199th by the New England Patriots decided to call it a day, others had trod that well-worn path of retiring only to turn days, weeks, or months later.
Here are five star athletes who just could not stay away.

Michael Jordan
The most famous and successful basketball player in history at the time, Michael Jordan caused uproar at the beginning of the 1993-94 season when he retired from basketball to pursue a career in baseball following the murder of his father.
However, in March 1995 he announced his return with the Chicago Bulls with a two word press release that simply said, “I’m back”.
He again retired in January 1999, but returned to the sport a year later as part owner and President of Basketball Operations for the Washington Wizards. In September 2001 he made his second basketball comeback, as a player for the Wizards.
Jordan eventually ended his time as a player against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 16, 2003, capping a remarkable career full of high profile U-turns.

Justine Henin
When she retired in May 2008, at the age of just 25, Justine Henin was the No 1 female tennis player in the world. A multiple grand slam champion, she won the Australian Open, the US Open twice and the French Open four times.
In discussing her decision, she said she was not sad because she had concentrated 20 years of her life on tennis and wanted to focus on charity and her tennis school instead.
But, in September the following year she announced she was returning to the sport after just 15 months away. She was forced to retire for good through injury in 2011.

Brett Favre
Brett Favre had been the Green Bay Packers quarterback for 16 seasons before he called it a day in March 2008.
His emotional goodbye to the sport during a highly charged press conference seemed to confirm the end of an era. But in July, Favre stunned the NFL when he announced his intention to return to the sport.
With the Packers already moving on to Aaron Rodgers, Favre was allowed to sign with the New York Jets. At the end of his first season at the Jets and at the age of 39 it was discovered he had a tear in the tendons of one of his biceps.
Although it did not require surgery, Favre stated this as one of his reasons for announcing his second retirement from the game. But Favre again caused shock as he announced yet another return to the sport the following season, this time with the Minnesota Vikings.

Paul Scholes
In the English Premier League, the most notable return to action is probably that of Manchester United legend Paul Scholes.
After calling time on his glittering career in May of 2011, the midfielder reversed his decision having felt rejuvenated after a four-month rest from the sport.
“I felt as fit as I’d probably ever had done after having four months off – it was just the break I needed,” Scholes said when talking about the decision.
He went on to make a further 33 appearances for the club while lifting the league title in 2012-13.

Connor McGregor
Has anyone retired more often and then decided to return than Connor McGregor.
The first came in 2016 after McGregor decided not to travel to the United States for media events surrounding his rematch with Nate Diaz. That decision to quit lasted 46 days and he eventually battled Diaz in one of the fights of the year.
His second retirement lasted just nine days in 2019, and came while the Irishman was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission because of a brawl that broke out with Khabib Nurmagomedov after their fight at UFC 229.
McGregor quit for a third time in four years in June 2020, but then came out of retirement again to fight Dustin Poirier in January the following year.


Meet Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson, who’s dating Haley Cavinder: the son and grandson of 2 famous football names, he once sent 2 children to the hospital and made another player quit mid-game

Who are Kyren Lacy’s parents, Kenny Lacy and Kandace Washington? Following the NFL hopeful’s tragic death, his father shared an important message about mental health

Meet Rooney and Kate Mara’s parents, who have 10 Superbowl rings together – Joaquin Phoenix and Women Talking actress Rooney have finally wed, but what do we know about her NFL royalty family?

Meet Sheawna Weathersby, the Chiefs’ former Mrs Defensive Tackle: a fashionista with her own clothing brand, she’s buddies with Taylor Swift and shares 2 sons with her ex, defensive end Chris Jones

NFL (National Football League)

After Tom Brady’s stunning U-turn, here are 5 times athletes quit and came back – from Michael Jordan to Connor McGregor

Quarterback Tom Brady is returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers less than two months after announcing he was stepping away after 22 seasons in the NFL. Photo: TNS

Michael Jordan in action for the Chicago Bulls during game two of the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz in 1997. Photo: AFP

Belgium’s Justine Henin makes a forehand return to Britain’s Elena Baltacha during their second round match at the Australian Open on January 19, 2011, just days before announcing her retirement for a second time. Photo: AP

Brett Favre, former NFL quarterback, poses with his bronze bust after being inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame on August 6, 2016. Photo: AFP

Manchester United’s Paul Scholes celebrates scoring against Bolton Wanderers during their English Premier League game at Old Trafford on January 14, 2012. Photo: Reuters

Conor McGregor reacts after losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov in a lightweight title mixed martial arts bout at UFC 229 in Las Vegas, on Saturday, October 6, 2018. Photo: AP

NFL: Tom Brady ends retirement after just 6 weeks, says he will play for Tampa Bay Buccaneers next season

Tom Brady is returning for a 23rd season in the NFL and will play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Photo: AP

Tom Brady was selected with the 199th pick in the 2000 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. Photo: AFP

What’s next for Tom Brady? After raking in US$450m in the NFL, the record Super Bowl winner is eyeing fashion, comedy, TV – and up to US$25m per year as a commentator

What will former NFL star Tom Brady do after retiring earlier this month? Photo: @tb12sports/Instagram

Tom Brady relaxing at home in his BradyBrand apparel. Photo: @bradybrand/Twitter

Tom Brady featuring in an episode of The Simpsons. Photo: @bradybrand/Twitter

Tom Brady has plenty of offers on the table for his post-NFL career. Photo: @tombrady/Instagram

Tom Brady’s well-known health regime has been key to his TB12 brand. Photo: @tb12sports/Instagram

Tom Brady at the Sports Illustrated awards in 2021. Photo: @tombrady/Instagram

Tom Brady, his wife Gisele Bündchen and their children. Photo: @tombrady/Instagram

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady celebrates his team’s win over the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL Super Bowl XLIX in 2015. Photo: Reuters

Sport

Basketball

Tennis

Football

Martial Arts

Michael Jordan was the most famous and successful player in NBA history when he decided to try his hand at baseball
Connor McGregor quit three times in four years, while before Brady, Brett Favre stunned the NFL


Michael Jordan was the most famous and successful player in NBA history when he decided to try his hand at baseball. Others to make stunning U-turns include Brett Favre and Connor McGregor.


After Tom Brady’s stunning U-turn, here are 5 times athletes quit and came back – from Michael Jordan to Connor McGregor

Michael Jordan was the most famous and successful player in NBA history when he decided to try his hand at baseball Connor McGregor quit three times in four years, while before Brady, Brett Favre stunned the NFL

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan was the most famous and successful player in NBA history when he decided to try his hand at baseball

Connor McGregor quit three times in four years, while before Brady, Brett Favre stunned the NFL