In September, we heard that Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady would likely retire for good after the 2022 season. However, as Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com report, Brady is leaving all of his options on the table.
Thanks to a weak NFC South, the 6-6 Buccaneers are atop their division and are presently in line for a home playoff game. Brady himself has not played as well as he had during his first two seasons in Tampa, as his middling quarterback rating (91.6) and poor yards per pass attempt average (6.4) would suggest. But the 45-year-old passer is reportedly feeling better physically after playing through shoulder and finger ailments earlier in the season, and he has been asking for more competitive 1-on-1 reps in practice. And, after struggling through the first three quarters of the Bucs’ Week 13 victory over the Saints, Brady looked strong in directing the Bucs’ last-minute comeback victory, so there are reasons to believe that he can lead another deep postseason run.
Brady has long stated that his plan is to play through his age-45 season, and as he will turn 46 next August, a return to the field in 2023 would represent an extension of that timeline. Still, his competitive nature compelled him to terminate a brief retirement this offseason, so it stands to reason that the way in which the 2022 campaign ends will go a long way in determining his future plans. It’s also possible that his very public divorce from Gisele Bundchen this year may make him want to come back so that he can go through his final NFL season without family turmoil weighing on him.
Brady will be a free agent at season’s end, and as many teams are dealing with quarterback uncertainty, he could have plenty of options. Adam H. Beasley of Pro Football Network names the 49ers, Jets, Giants, and Raiders as possible landing spots, and given the affection that Brady has for the Buccaneers and their ownership, a return to Tampa cannot be ruled out. As Joel Corry of CBS Sports notes, if Brady plays for a different club in 2023, the Bucs will carry a $35.1MM dead money charge on their books (Twitter link).
Whenever he chooses to hang up his cleats, Brady has a 10-year, $375MM contract with Fox to look forward to.