The news of Tom Brady’s retirement could not have come at a worse time.

When ESPN first spread word on January 29 that Brady was departing after over two decades in the NFL, Boston was underneath about two feet of snow from one of the biggest blizzards in the city’s history .

One of the few places open to talk to folks about the departure of one of the most impactful American athletes of the 21st century was the Coolidge Corner Clubhouse in Brookline, where a few dozen souls were gathered to ride out the blizzard with food and maybe a few drinks.

More Local News

Steve and Angel Skidmore had both walked about a mile through the storm to make it to the bar, where the couple discussed where Brady ranked on the all-time list of Boston’s greatest athletes.

“He’s at the top," Angel said.

“He’s definitely at the top," Steve chimed in.

“He’s the GOAT, for sure," Angel said, using the acronym for the Greatest of All Time.

“It’s hard to dispute that," Steve replied.

As exciting as the news was that snowy Saturday, it turned out ESPN jumped the gun a bit, based on less definitive news reports later that day.

But after Tuesday's announcement from Brady, it’s official: He is retiring and finishing up one of the most storied careers in not just football, but professional sports.

In a message posted to Twitter, Brady wrote that he believes that if there isn't a 100 percent commitment in football, then you won't succeed.

"This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that competitive commitment anymore," he wrote. "I have loved my NFL career, and now it is time to focus my time and energy on other things that require my attention."

In a statement , Patriots owner Robert Kraft wrote that a generation of football fans have grown up knowing only an NFL that Tom Brady dominated.

"In a team sport like football, it is rare to see an individual have such a dominant impact on a team’s success," Kraft wrote. "You didn’t have to be a Patriots fan to respect and appreciate his competitiveness, determination and will to win that fueled his success. As a fan of football, it was a privilege to watch. As a Patriots fan, it was a dream come true."

Nobody needs to go over Brady’s illustrious resume again, but here’s the abridged version just in case: Seven Super Bowl wins, six with the Patriots, the most all-time for any player. He holds the NFL records for career passing yards ( 84,520 ) and career passing touchdowns ( 624 ).

He was key in turning a once hapless NFL franchise into a winning organization and then did it again when he left the Patriots to sign with Tampa Bay and immediately brought the Buccaneers only their second-ever Lombardi Trophy.

And while the 44-year-old was the NFL’s oldest player this past season, he still looked to have plenty in the tank, leading the league in passing yards (5,316), completions (485) and passing TDs (43) this season.

Now, Brady is pulling off the rare feat of leaving while he’s still clearly at the top — of both the game and our obsession.

He’s been a part of the country’s pop culture consciousness for going on three decades now, winning championships under four different presidential administrations.

He’s equal parts intimidating, charming, infuriating and motivating as an athlete. And he’s just as fascinating in his personal life, where he’s married to Gisele Bündchen, a Brazilian supermodel who has a higher net worth than he does.

And if we’re being honest, he’s kind of freakin’ weird! He posts passive-aggressive videos of him and Rob Gronkowski celebrating big wins soundtracked to a Diddy song from 2001. He loves avocado ice cream and he apparently doesn’t believe in sunscreen. And he may or may not have had a dubious obsession with the air pressure in footballs at one point.

It’s the perfect mix to make some people place Brady just below religious figures in their adoration and others to dedicate their daily Two Minutes Hate to him. But no matter where you are on that spectrum, you can’t deny that he’s been completely captivating.

For most football fans, there’s little debate on where he ranks on the all-time lists. For Michael Lovell, who was at the Coolidge Corner Clubhouse and roots for what was one of Brady’s rivals in the NFC South, the argument is easy to make.

“I think he’s going to be regarded by most as the greatest quarterback of all-time," he said. "And it’s a difficult argument to argue against. I’m a Saints fan. I love Drew Brees. I think he’s Number Two, but it’s hard to argue that he’s Number One.”

When Brady was still with the Pats, he walked out to the field for home games while "Interlude (Public Service Announcement)" by Jay-Z would blare over Gillette Stadium’s speakers.

That song is off "The Black Album," the rapper’s 2003 project that, funny enough, was supposed to mark his retirement from the rap game.

But now that Brady has walked off the field for the last time, there’s another song from that LP that’s more apt for the moment. On “What More Can I Say,” the album's third song, Russell Crowe’s Maximus Meridius from the film “Gladiator” asks , “Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?”

For 22 seasons of Tom Brady, the answer to that question has more than likely been yes, always.