5 similarities between Tom Brady and Michael Jordan that make them the GOATs of their sports

On Wednesday morning, NFL legend Tom Brady stunned the world by announcing his retirement amid widespread rumors of whether or not he would stay in Tampa Bay. As it turns out, not only will Brady part ways with the Buccaneers franchise, but he will also say goodbye to pro football for good as he retires for the second time.

The news was pretty shocking. Although Brady had a mediocre season statistically, many believed he would want to end things on top rather than go out on a bad year. As the NFL bids farewell to the man many consider to be the greatest player in the history of the game, we're taking a look at how his career compares to MJ's.

Five similarities between Tom Brady and Michael Jordan that make them the GOATs of their sports.

#5, Great championship records

Michael Jordan is famous for never losing an NBA Finals series throughout his entire career. The 6-foot-6 guard out of North Carolina had a stellar 6-0 record in the finals. Although other legends like Bill Russell have more titles than Jordan, his 6-0 record proved that without question he was one of the most dominant to ever play.

Similarly, fans have seen Tom Brady's dominance throughout his whopping 10 Super Bowl appearances. With a record of 7-3 in championship games, Brady's run remains one of the most dominant in NFL history. For years, it essentially seemed as though Brady was a shoo-in to the Super Bowl thanks to his stellar play.

#4, Only played for two franchises

While both players played for two franchises throughout their careers, they're both notably known for their long tenure with one franchise. For Jordan, of course, it's the Chicago Bulls, while for Brady it's his 20-season stretch with the New England Patriots.

Late in their respective careers, however, they made big changes. Jordan unrited to play for the Washington Wizards, while Brady went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

#3: Retired (at least) twice

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady

When Michael Jordan walked away from basketball at the height of his career in 1993, he left fans stunned. While it was well known that his pursuit of baseball was in honor of his late father, many have continued to question whether there was more at play. Rumors of a secret suspension have continued to surface, despite Jordan himself denying them in "The Last Dance."

Jordan, of course, returned late in the 1994-95 season and won three more titles before retiring a second time. He returned after three seasons away to play for the Wizards in 2001. He retired for a third time after two seasons in Washington.

For Tom Brady, his retirement was less surprising . Given how many years he had dominated the NFL, many had wondered for years how long he'd play a year ago. Despite that, he controversially came back, reportedly putting a strain on his marriage. Brady said in his announcement video on Tuesday morning that he would not be returning.

2: Incredible longevity

During Jordan's career with the Chicago Bulls, both before after his retirement, it was like he never missed a beat. Aside from a broken foot costing him most of his sophomore season, Jordan managed to remain healthy and avoid serious injuries. Similarly, Brady has managed to go nearly his entire career without catastrophic injury.

Aside from the 2008 season, once Brady was handed the keys to the franchise as a starter, he rarely missed a game.

1, Globalized their sport

One of the biggest credits to both men is that their dominance and popularity have globalized their respective sports. Jordan put the game of basketball on a level it had never seen before. His dominance came at the perfect time as NBA games became more accessible on TV to a wider audience thanks to David Stern and the explosion of cable television.

Similarly, with Brady's Super Bowl wins transcending eras from the early 2000s through the late 2010s, he brought American football to a wider audience.