Tom Brady will first be eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2028, as that is five seasons after his final retirement following the 2022 season and inactivity beginning in 2023.

How Hall of Fame eligibility works

The Pro Football Hall of Fame requires that a player must not have played or been on an active regular- or postseason roster for five consecutive seasons before they can be considered for induction.

Because Brady’s true, final retirement came with his announcement in early 2023, his five-season waiting period points to the Class of 2028 as his first year of eligibility.

Why there’s confusion about 2027 vs 2028

Some early discussions assumed his first retirement after the 2021 season would start the clock, which would have made him eligible in 2027.

However, since he returned to play the 2022 season with Tampa Bay, the Hall of Fame uses his second, 2023 retirement as the starting point, pushing eligibility to 2028 instead.

How likely is first-ballot induction?

Brady is widely regarded as the NFL’s GOAT, with seven Super Bowl titles, three MVP awards, and nearly every major passing record, making him a virtual lock as a first-ballot Hall of Famer once 2028 arrives.

Commentary pieces and fan discussions consistently treat his induction as a formality, debating more the ceremony and context than the question of whether he’ll get in.

TL;DR: Tom Brady becomes eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the Class of 2028, five seasons after his final retirement in 2023.