Terry Bradshaw pinpointed the exact moment he realized he was “finished” as an NFL player.

The 76-year-old is best recognized by a generation of football fans as a long-time FOX NFL Sunday panelist. But he enjoyed a Hall of Fame career in the NFL beforehand, as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ legendary quarterback for 14 seasons.

Bradshaw led the team to four Super Bowl victories in 1974, 1975, 1978, and 1979, earning a reputation for having one of the most powerful arms in the league’s history. However, his career came to an abrupt end during a game in 1983.

While facing the New York Jets on December 10, 1983, Bradshaw threw a pass for a 10-yard touchdown in the second quarter. It turned out to be his final pass as he felt a pop in his elbow, with Bradshaw later pinpointing the moment as a sign he had to retire – which he did immediately after the game.

Reflecting on the incident in September 2023, an emotional Bradshaw said: “I was playing the Jets in New York. I rolled to the right and I had a little receiver named Gregg Garrity, he went into the post and, as I was scrambling, I looked and saw him coming loose. I turned and fired that football, and snapped that ligament in my elbow.

“I just went to the sideline and Tony Parisi, our equipment guy, came over – because I had an elbow injury earlier in my career. I said to him, ‘I’m finished, it’s gone’. And it was. But when I knew it was over, it was okay! It was like, I can’t play anymore so it’s okay.”

Bradshaw retired after popping his elbow while throwing

Bradshaw retired after popping his elbow while throwing ( 

Image:

Focus on Sport via Getty Images)

Bradshaw officially called time on his storied career in July 1984, quickly signing a deal with CBS to become one of their NFL analysts. For more than thirty years, he has been a staple on the FOX NFL Sunday team and known for lighting up the screen with his antics.

Yet the end of Bradshaw’s career on television could be on the horizon amid increasing pressure to replace the show’s co-host. The Steelers icon has gained attention for the wrong reasons this season, making high-profile errors such as calling Rob Gronkowski a guest analyst when he is actually a full-time member of the team.

Before that, Bradshaw was narrating a sequence of highlights from Week Seven’s early games when he began to prematurely talk about Cleveland Browns’ Nick Chubb’s return, while footage from the Buffalo Bills-Tennessee Titans clash played out.

With fans increasingly calling on the broadcasting veteran to retire, Bradshaw is once again approaching a difficult decision to give up a career and a passion.