21 January 2023 , 18:13
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Tom Brady's teammates believe that he is set to walk away from the team and potentially play elsewhere or consider retirement.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport has reported that Brady is set to take some time away from the sport, before he makes his decision on his intentions for the upcoming 2023 season. The 45-year-old quarterback will become a free agent in just a matter of weeks after spending three seasons in Florida with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After the 2021 season, Brady announced his intentions to retire, but shocked the world when he u-turned on that call and then signed a one-year deal to remain a Buccaneer and return for his 23rd season.
With the team largely keeping their roster intact, many expected the Bucs to compete for a Super Bowl once again, but fell well short and finished with a losing record before being bounced out of the first round of the playoffs.
Although a disappointing season with the team, Brady had shown that he's still a quarterback capable of beating anyone, which may convince him to remain in the NFL, but many believe it will not be with the Buccaneers.
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And Rapoport has reported that even his teammates do not think he will return. One player told him: "I'd be surprised if he's back." Another said: "He sounded like a person saying goodbye for good."
Rapoport also noted that his exit interview with the local media members seemed to be him saying goodbye as he thanked them for all their work over the course of the season.
Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were defeated by the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card roundIf Brady is to remain in the NFL, he will have no shortage of suitors, with the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers all being earmarked as potential landing spots.
The free agency period will begin in March, with teams eager to fill their roster with players quickly and not missing out on other players on the market. Fans should expect Brady to have made his decision by before this time.
Brady will be 46 years old should he decide to continue playing next season - with it then being over 10 years that many analysts had been projecting his decline - winning three Super Bowl's since then.
Should Brady retire though, he will walk into a job with FOX Sports, where he is expected to serve as an analyst as well as a commentator for big games, potentially calling a Super Bowl in the next few years.