’Tom Brady will be remembered as the Greatest of All Time’ - Sports world hails NFL superstar

Los Angeles - The sporting world hailed Tom Brady on Tuesday as the NFL legend announced his retirement after 22 seasons.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl winner and holder of a slew of records that may never be beaten, confirmed his retirement in a post on Instagram.

The 44-year-old said he was finally retiring after a career he described as a "thrilling ride."

Many across the NFL agreed, saluting Brady's competitive spirit and longevity in one of the world's most unforgiving sporting crucibles.

"It was an honor and a privilege to compete against him on the field," Brady's great quarterback rival and friend Peyton Manning said.

"To do it as long as he did, at the highest of levels is absolutely incredible."

Peyton Manning on Tom Brady: pic.twitter.com/Nt9F2NPGeC

Former Denver Broncos quarterback and Hall-of-Famer John Elway added: "When I think about Tom Brady, he’s a true winner who handled himself with class throughout his entire career.

"Even with those seven Super Bowl rings, he never lost that competitive fire to be the best."

Another quarterback legend and rival, former Green Bay Packers signal-caller Brett Favre, described Brady as the "greatest ever to play and you did it with class and humility."

"Man, @TomBrady, what a run!" Favre wrote. "God bless you and your family as you begin a new chapter in your life."

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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan -- who finished on the losing side when Brady led the New England Patriots to the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history in 2017 -- saluted an "amazing" career.

"Seven Super Bowls (wish it was 6) and countless other records