The ball is now in the New England Patriots' court.
Tom Brady's last social media appearance — before the Pats fell to the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Wild Card game on Saturday — was a hype video of a lion poised to feast on hyenas that also borrowed a Christopher Walken monologue.
This time, the 42-year-old quarterback struck a different tone. A lengthy Instagram post thanked fans and all Patriots personnel, while offering a glimpse into his thinking regarding the future: he's not done with football.
"In both life and football, failure is inevitable. You don't always win. You can, however, learn from that failure, pick yourself up with great enthusiasm, and place yourself in the arena again," Brady wrote. "And that’s right where you will find me. Because I know I still have more to prove."
On Monday, Brady said retirement was "pretty unlikely" and called the Patriots "the greatest organization ever."
For the first time in his career, Brady won't be under contract entering the upcoming season if he and the Patriots don't agree to another deal by March 18. He cannot be franchise tagged either. Coach Bill Belichick refused to answer any questions about the team's future or direction at any position following the team's postseason exit.
If Brady were to move on, he'd have his share of suitors — whether it be the Chargers or Dolphins, among others. Longtime coach and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is a candidate for the Cleveland Browns job, providing another possibility.
That would require a split from New England. But in 2020, the six-time Super Bowl champion plans on playing